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Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children

Award Number: R16EY036101
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children - Project Summary A lack of visual experience may affect language development in the domains of word learning and vocabulary development in ways that necessitate specific instructional approaches and interventions for blind children. Compared to sighted children, blind children may learn more words from speech because they do not casually perceive writing in their environment and often experience reading delays. They may also learn fewer words from direct perceptual experience because they cannot acquire the meanings of words by perceiving their ref- erents visually. Cumulatively, these word learning differences may affect the trajectory of vocabulary develop- ment in early and middle childhood. An improved understanding of vocabulary development could improve ed- ucation for this underserved population. Unfortunately, word learning and vocabulary are understudied within the area of blind children’s language development. This observational analytic study employing a cross-sec- tional design directly compares self-reported modes (perceptual or linguistic) and channels (spoken or written) of word learning for individual words in blind and sighted children. It also compares their trajectories of vocabu- lary development from age 5 to 12. Specific aims are 1) Determine whether vocabulary development in blind children is delayed relative to sighted children; 2) Examine whether mode and channel of word learning in blind children differ from those in sighted children; and 3) Present a dataset of age-of-acquisition (AoA), mode-of- acquisition (MoA), and channel-of-acquisition (CoA) norms for future use in research. The approach is innova- tive because objective age-of-acquisition norms (obtained from children themselves rather than subjective adult estimates) are more reliable and valid than subjective norms and are exceptionally rare. The verbal ad- ministration of tasks that are typically administered visually will make them accessible not only to blind children, but to any child with a reading or learning disability. Finally, the virtual approach to data collection will allow the researchers to reach more individuals from a population that is historically difficult to study. The project is an instrumental part of the PI’s long-term goal of understanding how vocabulary develops without sight and apply- ing this understanding to improve educational strategies and outcomes in blind children.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = $243,389 )
2024	2024	NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY	1425 W LINCOLN HWY	DEKALB	IL	60115	DEKALB	USA	Vision Research	001	2	8/9/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$186,250
2024	2024	NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY	1425 W LINCOLN HWY	DEKALB	IL	60115	DEKALB	USA	Vision Research	000	1	7/3/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$4,455
2024	2024	NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY	1425 W LINCOLN HWY	DEKALB	IL	60115	DEKALB	USA	Vision Research	002	2	8/14/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$52,684
														Subtotal = $243,389

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $186,250 )
2023	2023	NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY	1425 W LINCOLN HWY	DEKALB	IL	60115	DEKALB	USA	Vision Research	000	1	9/1/2023	NEW	$186,250
														Subtotal = $186,250

Grand Total All Awards = $429,639

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Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children

Award Number: R16EY036101

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/30/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2027

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