Communication is key for everyone — and researchers are working to better understand how children with Down syndrome communicate.
UC Davis is launching a major five-year, $5.5 million NIH-funded study to track how expressive communication — gestures, sounds, sign language, and spoken language — develops in children. Most children with Down syndrome experience delays in these skills, but researchers still have limited knowledge about how communication changes over time. This study aims to fill that gap.
The research will follow 168 children ages 18–54 months, helping families and providers better anticipate milestones and know when extra support may be needed. While Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition in the U.S., studies on communication development remain limited and underfunded, making this research especially critical.
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we’ll be watching these findings closely, exploring how they might inform and strengthen our programs for children with Down syndrome.
Read more about the UC Davis study here.