# Predictors of Speech Ability in Children with Down Syndrome

> **NIH NIH R21** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $483,161

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Speech is a critical aspect of the human experience and usually develops in a “seemingly
automatic process that continues from birth through adolescence (p.1, NAM, 2016)” and
underlies many related abilities (e.g., language and reading, see National Academy of Medicine
Report on Speech and Language Disorders, 2016). Many individuals with Down Syndrome
(Trisomy 21, DS) struggle to communicate and participate more fully in human communication
and educational learning experiences because their speech is difficult to understand. The
purpose of the proposed project is to measure speech-articulation accuracy and speech
intelligibility, and their proposed primary predictors at study entry in 20 children with DS age 7;0
to 12;11. A validated treatment, speech recast intervention (see Yoder, Camarata &
Woynaroski, 2016) will be used to drive growth in speech intelligibility as a means of evaluating
changes in potential sequelae of change. This integrated study will include measures of speech-
articulation accuracy, speech-prosody, general cognitive ability, receptive vocabulary skills, and
clinical assay of oral-motor ability as potential predictors of speech intelligibility growth in DS.
We will also be measuring suprasegmental and rhythmic factors associated with growth. The
results of this study will provide important information on factors that contribute to intelligible
speech in DS and subsequently provide the basis for refining and future intervention
investigations of treatment for speech deficits in children with DS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10316884
- **Project number:** 1R21DC019280-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephen Mark Camarata
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $483,161
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10316884

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10316884, Predictors of Speech Ability in Children with Down Syndrome (1R21DC019280-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10316884. Licensed CC0.

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