Understanding how adults learn and remember speech sounds with and without language disorders
Official title: Improving the Retention of Speech-Perceptual Learning in Adults With and Without Language Disorder
Run by University of Delaware · NCT05901493 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how well adults with and without language disorders can learn and remember speech sounds through different training schedules to see what works best for them.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 540 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Delaware Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Newark, Delaware and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 23, 2022 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05901493 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are native American English speakers aged 18-55, with or without developmental language disorder.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with a history of neurological, psychiatric, or socio-emotional disorders, or those on medications that alter sleep, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project investigates how adults with and without developmental language disorder (DLD) learn and retain speech sounds through perceptual training. It aims to determine the optimal training schedule for memory retention by recruiting 240 adults, split evenly between those with DLD and those without. Participants will undergo speech-perceptual training across various schedules to assess how these schedules interact with their natural circadian rhythms and affect overnight memory consolidation. The study combines insights from neurobiology, chronobiology, and speech perception to enhance learning strategies for adults facing language challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide effective learning and memory strategies for adults with developmental language disorder, improving their communication skills and educational outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically targeting adults with DLD, studies on memory consolidation and learning strategies in related fields suggest potential for success in this novel approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * native speakers of American English * Grew up in a household in which only American English was spoken * 18-55 years of age * Typical vision \& hearing * (Aim 2) access to headphones/devices capable of accessing experiment script via internet * Must meet criteria for Group membership as either TD or DLD Exclusion Criteria: * History of neurological disorders * History of psychiatric disorders * History of socio-emotional disorders * On prescription medication(s) that alter sleep
Where it's running
-
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware, United States Recruiting -
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Frances Earle, PhD
- Email: fsearle@udel.edu
- Phone: 6468128376
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.