How infants' brains track speech during the first year
Cortical Tracking of Speech in the First Year of Life: a Window Into (a)Typical Language Acquisition
This study will test whether 7–8 month-old babies' brain responses to speech predict their receptive and expressive language skills at about 18 months, comparing infants with and without a family history of language or learning problems.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 30 Weeks to 34 Weeks |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | IRCCS Eugenio Medea Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bosisio Parini, Lecco) |
| Trial ID | NCT07531706 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study records electrophysiological responses while healthy infants listen to speech and matched non-speech sounds at around 7–8 months, and also collects behavioral measures at the same visit. Infants are grouped by familial risk (at least one first-degree relative with a clinical diagnosis of language or learning disorder) versus no familial risk. Language outcomes, including receptive and expressive skills, are measured at approximately 18 months to test whether early neural cortical tracking predicts later development. The approach aims to identify early neural markers that could distinguish typical from atypical language trajectories.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy infants aged 7–8 months whose both parents are native Italian speakers, including those with and without a first-degree family history of diagnosed language or learning disorders.
Not a fit: Infants born before 37 weeks, with birth weight under 2500 g, low APGAR scores, low Bayley cognitive scores, major sensorineural or neurological conditions, or with excluded family histories are not eligible and would not benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If cortical tracking reliably predicts later language outcomes, clinicians could identify at-risk infants earlier and offer targeted early support or monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous EEG work measuring cortical tracking in infants and young children has shown promising links to later language skills, but predictable clinical application remains limited and is still being established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy infants aged between 7 and 8 months * Infants with and without familial risk for language disorders (Infants are assigned to the group with familial risk for language disorders if at least one first-degree relative had a certified (clinical) diagnosis of language and/or learning disorders). * Both parents are native-Italian speakers Exclusion Criteria: * Gestational age \< 37 weeks and/or birth-weight \< 2500 grams * APGAR scores at birth at 1' and 5' \< 7 * Bayley Cognitive Score \< 7 * Presence of certified diagnosis of intellectual deficiency, attention-deficit disorder, sensorial and neurological disorders or autism within first-degree relatives.
Where this trial is running
Bosisio Parini, Lecco
- IRCCS Eugenio Medea Associazione La nostra famiglia — Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.