Understanding how late talkers recognize spoken words
Official title: Behavioral and Neural Measures of Spoken Word Recognition in Late Language Emergence
Funded at Sacred Heart University · NIH-10437317 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at toddlers who are slow to talk to see how well they can recognize spoken words, and it aims to help parents understand their child's language development and find the best ways to support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sacred Heart University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfield, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $355,842 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC020290-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10437317 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are toddlers aged 18-35 months who exhibit late language emergence with limited spoken vocabulary.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not exhibit language delays or who have other developmental disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates toddlers who are late talkers, focusing on their ability to recognize spoken words. By using behavioral and neural measures, the study aims to identify early signs of language difficulties and understand the variations in language development among these children. The research will involve comparing late talkers with typically developing peers to better tailor interventions for those at risk of long-term language issues. Parents of toddlers aged 18-35 months with limited vocabulary may find this research particularly relevant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved early interventions for children with language delays, enhancing their communication skills and overall development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding language development in children, making this approach a continuation of established work in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simmons, Elizabeth — Sacred Heart University
- Study coordinator: Simmons, Elizabeth
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.