Understanding language access and processing in preschoolers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Assessing Access to Language in the Real-World and Neural Language Processing in Preschoolers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11101386

This study is looking at how young children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing learn language in their daily lives and how that affects their language skills, and it’s for families with preschoolers who have hearing challenges.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R21']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11101386 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how preschoolers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (CDHH) access language in their everyday environments and how this affects their language development. The study will recruit 40 CDHH children and a control group of children with typical hearing to evaluate their exposure to language using a new tool called the Speech Accessibility Index (SAI). Additionally, the research will explore the brain's response to language processing in noisy settings by measuring brain activity. The goal is to understand the factors that contribute to language delays in CDHH children and to improve their language outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are preschool-aged children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as well as children with typical hearing for comparison.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than preschool age or those who do not have hearing impairments may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for enhancing language development in children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

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

Where this research is happening

MADISON, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.