Understanding Language Differences in Children with Developmental Language Disorder
Disorder within Dialects: An Expanded Test of Tense and Agreement in Sentence Recall for Children with DLD
This project is developing a better way to identify language difficulties in children with Developmental Language Disorder who speak different English dialects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11111156 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) who speak dialects like African American English or Southern White English may not receive full language assessments because of concerns about confusing dialect with disorder. This can lead to missed opportunities for support. Researchers previously created a special test that helps tell the difference between dialect and DLD in these children. Now, this project will expand testing of this new tool with more children to make sure it works well for everyone.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 0-11, particularly those in 1st grade, who have or are suspected of having Developmental Language Disorder and speak nonmainstream English dialects like African American English or Southern White English.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have Developmental Language Disorder or who speak mainstream English dialects may not directly benefit from this specific diagnostic tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate and fair diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder for children who speak various English dialects, ensuring they receive appropriate support.
How similar studies have performed: A previous NIH-funded project successfully developed an initial version of this dialect-informed sentence recall task, showing promising results in differentiating children with and without DLD.
Where this research is happening
Baton Rouge, United States
- Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge — Baton Rouge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oetting, Janna B — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Oetting, Janna B
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 below.