Neuroimaging Study for Developmental Language Disorder

This study is looking at how the brain changes in children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), also known as specific language impairment, when they receive treatment. Researchers will use brain imaging (neuroimaging) and behavioral tests to understand how grammar learning works and how it's affected by DLD. They are testing a computer-assisted program called "My Sentence Builder" to see if it helps improve expressive grammar. The study aims to enroll 100 children between 48 and 71 months old who have DLD affecting their expressive grammar, or who are typically developing. The main goal is to see how brain connections change with treatment and over time.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 100 participants. The study will look at changes in brain functional connectivity.
What's involved
Functional connectivity data will be measured at the beginning of the study, after treatment (up to 14 weeks), and at a follow-up point (27 to 28 weeks).
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for up to 28 weeks after the start of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05268341

Neuroimaging Reveals Treatment-related Changes in DLD

Recruiting
NAAges 48–71InterventionalTreatment
University of Cincinnati
~100 participants
Updated 2026-05-26 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:My Sentence Builder

At a glance

Recruiting sites
4 of 6 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Functional connectivity data (time 1) from typical and DLD preschoolers
Measured over Time 1 (pre)
+2 more outcomes measured
Developmental Language Disorder

NCT05268341

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 6 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • CWFF CHild Development Center

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Empower Learn Create INC

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • New Horizon Childcare

    Cincinati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

  • University of Cincinnati

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Wesley Education Center for Children and Families

    Cincinnati, Ohiostudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Karla N Washington, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Cincinnati

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

receiving co-occurring speech-language or other intervention for communication
not MRI safe
special education placement of child based on ability or behavior
  • Functional connectivity data (time 1) from typical and DLD preschoolersTime 1 (pre)

    Aim 1 (all TD and DLD preschoolers)- Primary: Pre/Time 1 data for functional connectivity (assessed using fMRI from the Sentence Completion Expressive Language Task- Preschool (SCELT-P)) between Regions of Interest (ROI) in the procedural learning network and in the declarative memory network

  • Functional connectivity data DLD preschoolers only to assess changes with treatmentPre-to-post (up to 14 weeks), post-to-followup (at 27 to 28 weeks)

    Primary: Pre-to-post changes and maintenance of changes post-to-followup in functional connectivity (assessed using fMRI from the SCELT-P) between ROI within the procedural learning network and within the declarative memory network.

  • Functional connectivity data for typically developing and DLD preschoolers to assess changes in developmentpre-to-follow-up (up to 28 weeks)

    Changes in development (pre-to-followup) in functional connectivity (assessed using fMRI from the SCELT-P) between ROI within the procedural learning and declarative memory networks.