Understanding how hearing loss affects language processing in children

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Language Processing in School-Age Children with Mild-to-Severe Hearing Loss

NIH-funded research Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-11063840

This study looks at how hearing loss affects language development in kids who wear hearing aids, aiming to understand why some children with hearing difficulties are better at learning language than others.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFather Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boys Town, United States)
Project IDNIH-11063840 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between hearing loss and language development in school-age children. It focuses on children with mild-to-severe hearing loss who use hearing aids, examining how different levels of auditory access impact their language skills and brain activity. Using advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to uncover the neural dynamics involved in language processing and how they relate to the degree of hearing impairment. The findings could help identify why some children with hearing loss perform better than others in language acquisition.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are school-age children with mild-to-severe hearing loss who use hearing aids.

Not a fit: Children with normal hearing or those who do not use hearing aids may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions and support strategies for children with hearing loss, enhancing their language skills and educational outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding language processing in children with hearing loss, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.

Where this research is happening

Boys Town, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.