Wednesday, January 15, 2025 1/15/2025

A Developmental Framework For Linking Phonological And Morpho-syntactic Sequential Pattern Rules In Developmental Language Disorder

Award Number: R01DC018410
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

Group Awards By:

View Award Abstract

Abstract A hallmark of English-learning children with developmental language disorder (DLD, AKA specific language impairment) is the inconsistent production of grammatical morphology. However, recent work also implicates the phonological domain, as indicated by deficits in producing word and nonword forms. The hypothesis driving the current proposal is that morphological and phonological deficits are causally linked by a broader deficit in sequential pattern learning. The unique approach taken here combines what we already know about morpho-syntactic deficits in DLD with recent developments in the fields of linguistics and language acquisition. First, it is possible to divide phonological and morphological patterns into three pattern types (Single Feature, OR/Disjunction, Family Resemblance/Prototype), with these types having a long history of study in visual pattern learning. Importantly, children with DLD appear to have maximum difficulty with morpho- syntactic patterns of the OR type (e.g., regular past tense). In contrast, studies using artificial grammars show that infants who are typically developing are highly adept at learning Single Feature and OR pattern types; Family Resemblance patterns may be weaker. Typical adults are adept at Single Feature and Family Resemblance patterns, but appear to be, at least superficially, more like children with DLD in their performance on the OR pattern. With these intriguing findings as a starting point, the proposed research links phonological and morphological sequence learning in children with DLD. In Aim 1, we ask if 4- to 6-year-olds (typically developing (TD), DLD alone, DLD + speech sound disorder (SSD), and SSD with no morpho-syntactic deficit) and adults are sensitive to input examples that fit one of these three patterns. We predict that, consistent with their long-documented morpho-syntactic deficit, children with DLD will have particular difficulty with the phonological OR pattern. Consistent with their intact morpho-syntactic skills, children with SSD should show no deficits in the OR pattern, revealing a link between OR pattern learning, phonology, and morpho-syntax. Aim 2 explores whether the inclusion of a semantic subcategory cue facilitates learning the OR pattern. Aim 3 asks if dependence on the associatively organized lexicon can account for the infant-to-adult developmental changes observed for the OR pattern (which is not associatively organized) and thereby explores the possibility that children with DLD rely on their lexicons to compensate for their sequential pattern learning deficit. The results of the proposed studies promise to help identify the underlying mechanism(s) of DLD and to suggest possible intervention strategies, such as employing semantic cues to the OR pattern and strengthening lexical organization.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME	14100 CRAWFORD ST	BOYS TOWN	NE	68010	DOUGLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	6	12/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $637,417 )
2024	2024	FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME	14100 CRAWFORD ST	BOYS TOWN	NE	68010	DOUGLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	005	6	7/22/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$580,925
2024	2023	FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME	14100 CRAWFORD ST	BOYS TOWN	NE	68010	DOUGLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	3/12/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$636,130
2024	2023	FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME	14100 CRAWFORD ST	BOYS TOWN	NE	68010	DOUGLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	004	5	6/25/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$672,017
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	3/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$579,638
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	003	3	6/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$616,156
2024	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	2	6/25/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$55,861
2024	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	006	2	9/4/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $637,417

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $579,638 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 WEST CAMPBELL RD.	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	7/28/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$579,638
														Subtotal = $579,638

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $616,156 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	7/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$616,156
														Subtotal = $616,156

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $621,358 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	7/28/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$621,358
														Subtotal = $621,358

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $654,163 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS	800 W CAMPBELL RD	RICHARDSON	TX	75080	DALLAS	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	7/28/2020	NEW	$654,163
														Subtotal = $654,163

Grand Total All Awards = $3,108,732

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

A Developmental Framework For Linking Phonological And Morpho-syntactic Sequential Pattern Rules In Developmental Language Disorder

Award Number: R01DC018410

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer