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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Computer-Assisted Bilingual Vocabulary Intervention in Emergent Bilinguals with Developmental Language Disorder

Award Number: R01DC023613
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: 05/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2031

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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Computer-Assisted Bilingual Vocabulary Intervention in Emergent Bilinguals with Developmental Language Disorder - Project Summary/Abstract Over 45 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home, yet only ~5% of speech-language pathologists provide Spanish-language services. This critical shortage leaves many emergent bilingual children with developmental language disorder (DLD) without access to bilingual interventions, contributing to long-term disparities in communication outcomes. Bilingual intervention supports robust language growth in both Spanish and English with no loss of English gains, but is often unavailable due to the dearth of bilingual clinicians, leaving key aspects of these children's language development unaddressed. To address this gap, we propose a technology-driven solution: the Computer-Assisted Bilingual Vocabulary Intervention (CABVI), an approach that enables monolingual clinicians to deliver standardized, linguistically rich bilingual instruction using Spanish and English strategically to support learning and cross-linguistic transfer. CABVI uses interactive, responsive content to shift the clinician's role from sole language provider to facilitator, empowering SLPs to support dual-language development in emergent bilinguals with DLD. Our long-term goal is to reduce gaps in care for emergent bilinguals DLDs by leveraging such scalable, technology-based strategies to expand access to bilingual intervention. The immediate objective of this R01 is to rigorously evaluate CABVI's efficacy and ecological validity in a randomized controlled trial. Aim 1 will determine whether emergent bilinguals with DLD children receiving bilingual CABVI show greater vocabulary gains in Spanish and English than peers receiving monolingual interventions (either traditional English-only therapy or monolingual CABVI). Aim 2 will compare vocabulary growth in emergent bilinguals with DLD children versus their typically developing bilingual peers after CABVI to understand how developmental language disorder influences response to bilingual intervention. Aim 3 will assess the platform's real-world feasibility by examining monolingual SLPs' fidelity to the intervention protocol, as well as their satisfaction and confidence using CABVI. Preliminary findings underscore CABVI's promise: a pilot school implementation demonstrated that monolingual providers can feasibly deliver CABVI with high fidelity over several months, and children receiving bilingual CABVI achieved significant vocabulary gains in both Spanish and English while maintaining progress in English comparable to monolingual intervention outcomes. By validating this scalable, linguistically tailored intervention, the project will improve access to this population for appropriate therapy, enhance their bilingual communication outcomes, and inform future scalable clinical models that leverage technology to bridge clinician-language gaps - directly aligning with NIDCD priorities to develop evidence-based interventions and improve access to evidence-based care for all Americans.


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 = $530,054 )
2026	2026	TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY	3101 BELLAIRE DRIVE NORTH	FORT WORTH	TX	76129	TARRANT	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	1	8/11/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY	3101 BELLAIRE DRIVE NORTH	FORT WORTH	TX	76129	TARRANT	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	5/11/2026	NEW	$530,054
														Subtotal = $530,054

Grand Total All Awards = $530,054

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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Computer-Assisted Bilingual Vocabulary Intervention in Emergent Bilinguals with Developmental Language Disorder

Award Number: R01DC023613

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: 05/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2031

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