Understanding how girls with autism communicate differently
Official title: Defining the female pragmatic language profile of autism and the broad autism phenotype
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11072763 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how girls with autism and their family members communicate differently than boys with autism, to help improve social skills and interactions for everyone involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 8, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $708,113 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC022484-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11072763 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include girls aged 0-11 years with autism and their first-degree relatives.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or do not have a family history of autism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique social language skills of girls with autism and their relatives who may show traits of autism without a formal diagnosis. By examining how these skills differ from boys with autism, the study aims to identify specific patterns that could help improve communication and social interactions. The researchers will use advanced methods to analyze language use in various social situations, focusing on both diagnosed individuals and their family members. This approach seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how gender influences language development in autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better communication strategies and support for girls with autism and their families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding gender differences in autism can lead to significant advancements in treatment and support, suggesting this approach has the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Losh, Molly C — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Losh, Molly C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social language patterns in autistic females and their family members
This project looks at how girls and women with autism and their close relatives use social language in everyday conversations.
-
Neural roots of how autistic adults understand word meaning
A study to understand how adults with autism process word meanings in the brain, aiming to improve language support.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
Sleep and daily rhythms and brain development in autism
Aiming to understand how sleep problems and daily activity patterns affect brain growth, thinking skills, daily functioning, and autism symptoms in children.
-
HIV in Women: How the virus hides and the immune system changes across life stages
This project looks at how HIV behaves differently in people from puberty through menopause, focusing on how hormones like estrogen may affect HIV persistence and immune responses.
-
Early sensory development and language in infants/toddlers at risk for autism
A family-friendly study exploring how early sensory responses relate to language development in young children who have siblings with autism.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.