Understanding language development in late talkers

Improving the clinical utility of preschool language sample analysis

NIH-funded research Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-10840717

This study is looking at children who are late talkers but don't have any other issues, to see what early skills might help them catch up with their talking or face ongoing challenges, and it follows their language development from ages 2 to 5.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (College Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10840717 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates late talking in children, focusing on those who show delayed expressive language skills without other impairments. By analyzing data from a cohort of late talkers and their typically developing peers, the study aims to identify early skills that predict language recovery or ongoing challenges. The research tracks various aspects of language growth from 24 to 60 months, including phonological development and vocabulary diversity, to better understand the factors influencing language outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-5 years who exhibit late talking without other cognitive or motor impairments.

Not a fit: Children who do not exhibit late talking or have additional developmental impairments may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for identifying and supporting children at risk for lasting language impairments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in understanding language development in children, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.

Where this research is happening

College Park, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.