Understanding how toddlers develop language skills and identifying delays early

Lexico-semantic abilities in early language growth and delay

NIH-funded research Purdue University · NIH-11019839

This study is looking at how toddlers learn to understand and use words, and it’s for parents of 18-month-olds who want to help their kids develop strong language skills and catch any potential language delays early on.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPurdue University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (West Lafayette, United States)
Project IDNIH-11019839 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the development of lexico-semantic skills in toddlers, which are crucial for language acquisition. By recruiting a diverse group of 18-month-old children, the project aims to track their language growth over time and identify early indicators of potential language disorders. The study employs various assessments to measure children's abilities in understanding and processing word meanings, with the goal of improving early detection of language delays. The findings could help in creating better diagnostic tools for identifying children at risk for language disorders.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are toddlers aged 18 months with varying language abilities and backgrounds.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 4 years or do not exhibit any language development concerns may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate identification of language disorders in young children, allowing for timely interventions.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using early language skills as indicators for later language development, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

West Lafayette, 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.
Conditions Developmental Disorder Speech or LanguageDevelopmental Language Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.