# Prediction Processes in Children with Developmental Language Disorder

> **NIH NIH F32** · FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME · 2022 · $33,791

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) exhibit significant, persistent impairments of language
ability relative to children with typical language development (TLD), including deficits in sentence comprehension
and word learning. In typical samples, prediction (the ability to use linguistic and nonverbal information to
incrementally anticipate upcoming input) facilitates language comprehension, whereas prediction error (the
deviation between the predicted and actual input) supports word learning. However, little research exists on
prediction processes in individuals with DLD. The long-term goal of the research project is to examine, in typical
and atypical populations, the developmental trajectory of prediction as it relates to language acquisition. To this
end, the current objective is to compare prediction, prediction errors, and the role of prediction during word
learning in 4- to 6-year-old children with TLD and children with DLD using eye tracking in a visual world paradigm.
The central hypothesis is that both groups will predict efficiently, but that children with DLD will be less efficient
in recovering from prediction errors, which will negatively impact comprehension and word learning. Aim 1 is to
identify differences in the time course of prediction and revision in children with TLD and DLD. It is expected that
both groups will efficiently predict target words but that children with DLD will revise from error more slowly than
TLD children, suggesting reduced processing efficiency. Aim 2 is to ascertain the role of prediction mechanisms
in word learning between groups. It is expected that prediction will benefit word learning in both groups whereas
prediction error will benefit word learning in children with TLD but not children with DLD. Working memory, speed
of processing, interference control, and vocabulary size will be assessed as factors driving group differences in
prediction and word learning with the expectation that individual differences in these cognitive abilities will be
associated with performance in both groups. The expected outcome of the proposed research is the delineation
of weaknesses in prediction processes in DLD that may contribute to problems of language comprehension in
the moment and problems in building a language system over time. Results will also reveal relations between
prediction and other domain-general factors important to language development. These outcomes will lay the
foundation for future research on identification methods and interventions tailored to specific patterns of deficits.
If funded, the project will assist the applicant in achieving her goal to have an established program of research
on developmental trajectories of language knowledge, language processing, and domain-general cognitive
abilities in typical and disordered language. The specific training goals of this project are to 1) extend experience
in and knowledge of language disorders, 2) gain ex...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320733
- **Project number:** 5F32DC019253-02
- **Recipient organization:** FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME
- **Principal Investigator:** Erin Smolak
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $33,791
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-24 → 2022-06-23

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320733

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320733, Prediction Processes in Children with Developmental Language Disorder (5F32DC019253-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320733. Licensed CC0.

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