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On-going research with children…

Acoustic variability in the learning of new words in children aged 7 to 10 years with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Acoustic variability in the learning of new words in children aged 7 to 10 years with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Identifier: VarLoc

Date: May 2025 – September 2025

Participants: Children aged 7 to 10 years with a diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

Funding: ARC

Summary: Recent research has shown that hearing a new word spoken by several speakers, rather than just one, can help children learn it more effectively. However, it is still unclear how this works in children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

To study this, we are looking for typically developing children and children with DLD, aged 7 to 10 years, to participate in a fun study involving two sessions over two consecutive days. During each session, your child will hear 12 invented words associated with images, spoken in one or multiple different voices, in order to assess learning and memory after a night of sleep.

 

More information: Read the detailed study information sheet HERE and/or the recruitment flyer HERE if you are a parent interested in this study.

Status: Recruitment ongoing. If you wish to have your child participate in this study, feel free to register HERE or send us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will then get in touch with you.

 

 

 

Neural correlates of multisensory integration in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A magnetoencephalography study

Neural correlates of multisensory integration in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A magnetoencephalography study

Identifier: MSI autism

Date: June 2023 – May 2025

Participants: FRENCH SPEAKING (1) Children aged 7 to 13 years with a diagnosis of autism and (2) with typical development

Funding: FRIA (FNRS) & BKF

Summary: This study aims to understand how the brains of children (both autistic and non-autistic) process and integrate multisensory information (from different senses: hearing, vision, etc.). In daily life, we are often exposed to numerous sensory stimuli, and the integration of these stimuli plays a key role in how we navigate the world. Autistic individuals often report difficulties or alterations associated with sensory processing: understanding how these signals are processed by the brain could help us better comprehend the constellation of challenges faced by some individuals in their daily lives, both in sensory and social or communicational contexts.

In this context, we aim to record the brain activity of children using a neuroimaging device called magnetoencephalography (MEG). Better understanding the neuroscientific basis of these particularities is crucial for early detection and the development of appropriate support strategies.

More information: Read the detailed study sheet HERE if you are a parent interested in this study.

Status: Recruitment ongoing. If you wish to have your child participate in this study, feel free to register HERE or send us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will then get in touch with you.

 

Is the interactional bias in language development universal? A study of language learning from audiovisual material vs interaction in autistic and neurotypical children.

Is the interactional bias in language development universal? A study of language learning from audiovisual material vs interaction in autistic and neurotypical children.

Identifier: LangInteractionVideo

Date: October 2024 – October 2028

Participants: Children aged 4 to 6/8 years old (1) diagnosed with autism and (2) with typical development

Funding: FNRS

Summary: Research shows that children learn language better through social interactions than by simply being exposed to audiovisual material. However, it is unclear whether this preference for social interaction is universal across all children, regardless of their developmental profiles. This project will propose games to explore the ability of neurotypical and autistic children to learn different types of linguistic content – such as names – in three contexts: (i) face-to-face interaction, (ii) during a video call, or (iii) from a pre-recorded video. In addition, the study will track the language development of children over a two-year period following their initial participation.

More information: Read the detailed study sheet HERE if you are a parent of a child with autism and HERE if you are a parent of a typically developing child.

Status: Recruitment ongoing. If you wish to have your child participate in this study, feel free to register HERE or email us (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will then contact you.

 

 

Association between the maturation of sleep-wake rhythm and language acquisition in children

Association between the maturation of sleep-wake rhythm and language acquisition in children

Identifier: SOM01

Date: September 2023 – September 2025

Participants:(1) French-speaking children (2) Aged between 2 and 6 years

Funding: EOS

Summary: Over a 14-day period, your child’s sleep-wake rhythm will be analyzed using an actimeter. This device, similar to a bracelet, records movements throughout the day and night, providing a precise view of their sleep habits. Additionally, games will be offered to assess your child’s language and reasoning abilities.

More information:Read the detailed study sheet HERE if you are the parent of a typically developing child.

Status:Recruitment ongoing. If you would like your child to participate in this study, feel free to register HERE or send us an email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We will then contact you.

 

Belas

Belas

Identifier: Belgian Language in Autism Study

Date: September 2023 - September 2026

Participants: French-speaking children aged 2 to 5 years and 11 months with a diagnosis of autism or under suspicion

Funding: EOS

Summary:

In autism, language development is generally considered entirely dependent on communicative and interactional skills. However, there is reason to believe that, for at least some autistic children, language development might follow an atypical trajectory that is partially independent of communication and social interaction skills. The goal of the Belgian Language in Autism Study (BeLAS) is twofold.
First, we aim to identify different trajectories of language acquisition that may emerge in a large group of young autistic children.
Second, we seek to evaluate the impact of a series of interactional and non-interactional factors on these different trajectories of language acquisition.
The BeLAS project is a longitudinal study in which we follow the development of children for 2 years after their enrollment in the study.
Various methodologies are used to measure children’s language development as well as the predictive factors for the development of functional oral language.

More information: You can visit the BeLAS study website directly at https://www.belas.ulb.be/

Status: Recruitment is closed. If you would like more information, feel free to send us an email at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

 

 

 

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