Neuroimaging Reveals Treatment-related Changes in DLD
United States100 participantsStarted 2022-05-24
Plain-language summary
Children with developmental language disorders (DLD, aka specific language impairment), a prevalent pediatric disorder, experience hallmark grammar deficits with life-long impacts on educational and occupational outcomes. While effective and early interventions can mitigate the impact of DLD, not enough is known about the neural basis of DLD in young children, yet is needed to inform the design of more individualized interventions. This project uses neuroimaging, along with behavioral methods, with the goal of better understanding the memory-language mechanisms that underlie grammar learning and impairment, while also considering their association to treatment-related changes in preschoolers with DLD.
Who can participate
Age range
48 Months – 71 Months
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* ages 48-71 months
* average nonverbal intelligence quotient (IQ)
* enrolled in participating center
* typically developing (receptive and expressive language, social, articulation, other)
* DLD for expressive grammar
* typical oral motor function
* typical social/pragmatics skills
* average hearing thresholds
* monolingual and native Standard English speakers
* does not have any uncorrected vision challenges
Exclusion Criteria:
* receiving co-occurring speech-language or other intervention for communication
* not MRI safe
* special education placement of child based on ability or behavior
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Functional connectivity data (time 1) from typical and DLD preschoolers
Timeframe: Time 1 (pre)
2
Functional connectivity data DLD preschoolers only to assess changes with treatment
Timeframe: Pre-to-post (up to 14 weeks), post-to-followup (at 27 to 28 weeks)
3
Functional connectivity data for typically developing and DLD preschoolers to assess changes in development