Understanding language challenges in adults with Developmental Language Disorder
Official title: Language outcomes, mechanisms, and trajectories in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-10897886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects adults' language skills and everyday life, like their education and jobs, to better understand the differences in how people with DLD communicate compared to those without it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $577,626 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020143-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10897886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder as well as those without the disorder for comparative analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have language processing issues or who are not adults may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects language abilities in adults and the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved. It aims to characterize the long-term outcomes of DLD, such as impacts on education, employment, and mental health. By examining how competition among linguistic representations influences language use, the study seeks to uncover individual differences in language ability. This research will involve assessments and analyses of language processing in adults with and without DLD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and support for adults with Developmental Language Disorder, enhancing their communication skills and overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding language processing in typical adults, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights into DLD as well.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendrickson, Kristi — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Hendrickson, Kristi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Retrieval-based Word Learning for Young Children with Developmental Language Disorder
A project helps 4- to 5-year-olds with language disorder learn new words more effectively using memory-based learning tricks.
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Predicting Developmental Language Delay in Young Children
A study of young children to identify early signs that predict developmental language delay, using timing and processing measures from two new language screening tools.
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Understanding how infants’ early speech becomes language skills and how it might signal language disorders
This grant studies how a baby’s brain learns sounds in the first year of life and whether early patterns can predict and prevent language disorders.
-
Language in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
This grant helps researchers study how language abilities develop and change in adults with and without developmental language disorder to improve understanding and support.
-
Understanding short-term verbal memory in children and adults with Developmental Language Disorder
A study to understand the memory and language links in people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) across kids and adults.
-
Computer-assisted bilingual vocabulary help for kids with language disorder
A computer-assisted program helps monolingual clinicians teach bilingual Spanish-English vocabulary to emergent bilingual children with developmental language disorder.
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.