Understanding How the Brain Processes Speech in Autism
Official title: The Role of Context in the Neural Processing of Speech in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11128568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how the brain of individuals with autism processes speech, especially in noisy places or when trying to understand social cues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $200,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DC022031-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder who experience difficulties with speech processing, particularly in noisy environments or with social cues, may be ideal candidates for future related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose speech processing is not affected by autism spectrum disorder may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
What this research studies
Many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) find it hard to understand speech, especially when there's background noise or when trying to pick up on social and emotional cues. This difficulty might be because their brains process speech context differently, making it harder to focus on important sounds and filter out distractions. We want to understand the brain mechanisms behind these differences, specifically looking at how the brain balances different types of speech information. Our goal is to uncover the biological reasons why this balance might be disrupted in ASD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to help individuals with autism better understand speech and improve social communication.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that context-dependent auditory processing is supported by interactions between different brain processes in typical development, providing a foundation for this work.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lau, Chung Yin Joseph — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Lau, Chung Yin Joseph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how context shapes speech processing in autism
A study to learn how people with autism process speech differently in real-life listening situations.
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Understanding how context affects speech processing in autism.
This study is looking at how people with autism understand speech, especially when there’s a lot of background noise, to help find better ways for them to communicate and connect with others.
-
Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
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Paternal exposures and sperm epigenetics linked to autism in children
This project looks at how a father's environment and health before conception might influence autism risk in his children.
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Anxiety Management for Young Children with Autism
A study at a major hospital will test a medication called buspirone in young children with autism to see if it helps reduce anxiety.
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Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
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.