Description

This forecasted funding opportunity, offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids (TALK) initiative, aims to advance research on early screening, diagnosis, and referral processes for late talking children. The primary goal is to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based practices and strategies that enable efficient identification of early signs of late talking and provide effective support to parents, caregivers, and professionals from the first point of concern.

The initiative defines "late talking" as children—typically over 18 months—who are not meeting expressive language milestones for any reason. Populations of interest include children at higher risk due to factors such as premature birth, trauma, neurological or sensory disorders, emotional or behavioral disorders, and intellectual or developmental disabilities, as well as children with no apparent cause for delayed speech.

Research should focus on the birth-to-three-year age range and address early service steps such as screening, surveillance, referral, and in-depth evaluation, in settings like primary care, specialty care, educational, and early childhood community environments. Community partnerships and community-engaged research approaches are a key requirement. Investigators with expertise in early language development, early intervention, primary care, clinical practice research, dissemination and implementation science, and community engagement are encouraged to begin developing collaborations and project concepts.