Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Translational Virtual Reality and Electrophysiologic Investigation of Audiovisual Spatial Attention in ASD and ADHD

Award Number: K23DC022971
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2030

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Translational Virtual Reality and Electrophysiologic Investigation of Audiovisual Spatial Attention in ASD and ADHD - ABSTRACT Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often struggle to understand speech in noisy environments, impairing community participation. Despite the high prevalence of these auditory processing disorders, evidence-based interventions remain limited due to gaps in understanding neural mechanisms and the impact of clinical heterogeneity. This project addresses these gaps through a series of translational aims that combine electrophysiology (EEG), virtual reality (VR), neuropsychological phenotyping, and community-engaged research to inform the development of targeted interventions. Prior work has implicated audiovisual integration of lip movements with speech sounds as a contributing mechanism to auditory processing disorders but has largely overlooked the confounding role of spatial attention deficits. Disambiguating their contributions is critical for designing mechanism-targeted interventions. This project tests the hypothesis that disrupted visual and/or auditory spatial attention mechanisms negatively impact audiovisual speech-in-noise perception in specific subpopulations of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and serve as a promising target for mechanism-informed VR interventions. In Aim 1, we will use EEG to compare neural signatures of audiovisual integration and spatial attention in school-age children with TD, ADHD-only, ASD-only, and ASD+ADHD, clarifying mechanisms driving auditory processing challenges. In Aim 2, we will conduct deep phenotyping across cognitive, attentional, and sensory domains and perform neural-phenotypic correlations to examine how the neural differences from Aim 1 relate to heterogeneity in clinical presentation. In Aim 3, we will leverage an existing ADHD cohort for whom we have already demonstrated spatial attention deficits to develop a prototype VR-based spatial attention training via a user-centered design process. This work will improve precision in identifying subgroups of children with ASD and ADHD who may benefit from targeted interventions, bridging the gap between neuroscience and clinical application. It also centers family and stakeholder perspectives, ensuring real-world feasibility. As an early-stage investigator trained in developmental-behavioral pediatrics and neuroscience, the PI is well-positioned to benefit from leading this translational work. The PI has strong mentorship at the University of Rochester Medical Center across neuroscience and pediatrics departments and external collaborators in VR design at the nearby Rochester Institute of Technology. The training plan will develop the PI’s skills in qualitative research and clinical trial design, fostering a research program focused on the translation of mechanistic understanding into evidence-based intervention.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $192,672 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	3/2/2026	NEW	$192,672
														Subtotal = $192,672

Grand Total All Awards = $192,672

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Translational Virtual Reality and Electrophysiologic Investigation of Audiovisual Spatial Attention in ASD and ADHD

Award Number: K23DC022971

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2030

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer