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How Single-Word and Telegraphic Simplification Affects Language Processing and Word Learning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Award Number: R01DC020165
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2027

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How Single-Word and Telegraphic Simplification Affects Language Processing and Word Learning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The vast majority of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate severe and persistent delays in language development that negatively impact their ability to form social relationships, succeed in school, and achieve an optimal quality of life. Given the severity of language delays and their lasting impact, many interventions have been developed to improve language skills in children with ASD. A central strategy in such interventions is for adults to modify the way they speak to help children understand and learn from spoken language—for example, by simplifying their utterances, relative to utterance length in adult conversation. However, the field lacks controlled, experimental evidence regarding how linguistic simplification impacts children’s ability to understand and learn from spoken language. This gap in knowledge poses a significant barrier to evidence-based practice and scientific progress. Fortunately, our team has validated and refined the tools needed to address the limitations of prior work. In the proposed study, we adopt the looking- while-listening paradigm to examine real-time effects of utterance simplification on children’s language processing and word learning. As a screen-based task, looking-while-listening has limited behavioral task demands, making it appropriate for children with a wide range of abilities (including those who are minimally verbal). The objective of the proposed project is to determine how linguistic simplification affects language processing and word learning in young children with ASD. Participants will be 104 children with ASD (2 – 4 years old) with a broad range of abilities. Children will complete standardized assessments and looking-while- listening tasks. Based on strong preliminary data, our central hypothesis is that simplification will negatively affect processing and learning. This central hypothesis will be addressed by 3 Specific Aims: 1) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects language processing in young children with ASD. 2) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects word learning in young children with ASD. 3) Evaluate child characteristics that may moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning in young children with ASD. Regardless of the outcome, these results will have a strong impact on theory and clinical practice. Findings will be significant because they will determine how linguistic simplification affects children’s ability to understand and learn from spoken language. This project will also contribute to our long-term goal of systematically evaluating the components (and likely active ingredients) of early language interventions.


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 = $706,530 )
2026	2026	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 360	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	6/3/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$706,530
														Subtotal = $706,530

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $715,812 )
2025	2025	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	5/20/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$715,812
														Subtotal = $715,812

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $1,084,774 )
2024	2024	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	5/10/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$366,385
2024	2024	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	5/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$718,389
														Subtotal = $1,084,774

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $714,477 )
2023	2023	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	5/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$714,477
														Subtotal = $714,477

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $735,243 )
2022	2022	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	4/4/2022	NEW	$0
2022	2022	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD RM 2	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	3/31/2022	NEW	$735,243
														Subtotal = $735,243

Grand Total All Awards = $3,956,836

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How Single-Word and Telegraphic Simplification Affects Language Processing and Word Learning in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Award Number: R01DC020165

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2027

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