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Eye Tracking Technologies to Characterize and Optimize Visual Attending in Down Syndrome

Award Number: R01HD083381
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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¿ DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common known genetic origin of intellectual disability and has an estimated incidence of 1 in every 1000 live births. Such children face unique challenges as they enter into the school years, because the speech that was previously adequate for communication with familiar partners in supportive settings is often not sufficient for academic communication with unfamiliar partners. Indeed, 95% of parents surveyed reported that their children with DS had difficulty being understood by persons outside their immediate social circle (Kumin, 1994). This has significant implications for academic, social, and vocational success; children with limited language skills are at risk of falling behind nondisabled peers academically and experiencing social isolation. Secondary issues often arise when children experience frustration in communication, commonly in the form of challenging behaviors. All aspects of development are further compromised when these behaviors involve aggression toward others, have significant health implications when they are self-injurious, and exacerbate service costs when they necessitate extensive behavior management plans. Children with DS are in desperate need of communication interventions that provide them with the tools to succeed throughout the school years. One form of intervention is called aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). In typical clinical applications, aided AAC systems employ picture books, tablet-style computers that present the user with graphic symbols, and sometimes text or synthesized voice output. Because AAC relies on vision rather than sound/speech for access to the communication messages, it is critical to map out how children with DS examine and extract information from visual AAC displays. Otherwise there is the risk of implementing systems that are poorly matched to children's skills and needs, a practice that in turn results in limited use or abandonment of the system. Few current AAC designs consider the fit between the system and the visual processing skills of users, and most are uninformed by empirical knowledge about human visual information processing. Moreover, little is known about visual processing in persons with significant communication limitations associated with DS. This research aims to improve the design of AAC displays through characterization of visual attention patterns to different AAC displays and their effects on functional use. Eye tracking - rarely used in DS - will reveal attention patterns/processes that typically go unrecorded in behavioral research. Our three-phase program will begin with eye tracking studies of visual attention under largely non-social laboratory conditions. In the next phase, we will introduce social interactions and record gaze path using mobile eye tracking technology. In the final phase, we will translate the knowledge gained in the laboratory studies to optimize functional communication in individuals with DS in performing tasks that represent typical daily life activities.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = -$6,112 )
2022	2020	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	6/14/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$6,112
														Subtotal = -$6,112

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $268,548 )
2020	2020	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	12/12/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$241,692
2020	2020	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	5	2/12/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$26,856
														Subtotal = $268,548

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $301,881 )
2019	2019	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	12/6/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$301,881
														Subtotal = $301,881

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $302,568 )
2018	2018	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	3	5/1/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$30,258
2018	2018	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	1/16/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$272,310
														Subtotal = $302,568

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $303,227 )
2017	2017	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	2	6/13/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$30,324
2017	2017	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE	201 OLD MAIN	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	12/8/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$272,903
														Subtotal = $303,227

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $315,729 )
2016	2016	PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY	110 TECHNOLOGY CENTER BUILDING	UNIVERSITY PARK	PA	16802	CENTRE	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	12/11/2015	NEW	$315,729
														Subtotal = $315,729

Grand Total All Awards = $1,485,841

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Eye Tracking Technologies to Characterize and Optimize Visual Attending in Down Syndrome

Award Number: R01HD083381

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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