Understanding Speech Differences in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Official title: Differential Diagnosis of Functional Speech Deficits in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11136538 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create better tools for identifying speech challenges in young children with cerebral palsy so they can get help sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 8, 2016 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $610,898 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC015653-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136538 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for children aged 0-11 years old, particularly those with cerebral palsy who may have speech difficulties, and also typically developing children whose speech samples help establish normal development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose speech difficulties are not related to dysarthria or cerebral palsy may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
About half of all children with cerebral palsy experience a speech disorder called dysarthria, which can be hard to spot early because its signs can look like normal speech development. Our goal is to develop clear, data-driven standards that help tell the difference between typical speech development and dysarthria in young children. We are adapting a special speech assessment tool for English-speaking children and will use it to analyze speech samples from many children, both with and without cerebral palsy. This will help us understand how speech develops and how dysarthria appears, leading to more accurate and timely support for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier and more accurate identification of speech disorders in children with cerebral palsy, allowing them to receive effective treatment sooner.
How similar studies have gone: While the Bogenhausen Dysarthria Scales are well-established internationally, this project represents the first large-scale comprehensive study of speech subsystem development using auditory-perceptual features in English-speaking children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hustad, Katherine C — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Hustad, Katherine C
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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.