PJ Heroes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PJ Heroes: sleep and vocabulary learning in developmental language disorder at 4-6 years
IRAS ID
250102
Contact name
Victoria Knowland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Multiple studies have linked sleep in childhood with children's language ability. Sleep is also important for the consolidation of new language in adults and children; for example, performance on word learning tasks is better after sleep compared to an equivalent time awake. However, sleep has never been objectively studied in children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), that is, children who struggle to acquire typical language skills for an unknown reason.
The aims of the 'PJ Heroes' study are twofold. The first aim is to objectively measure sleep behavior in four-to-six year-old children with a diagnosed language delay or DLD compared to their typically developing peers. The second aim is to assess change in behavioural performance on a vocabulary learning task over the course of a week.
This work will provide the first objective data about whether sleep patterns are different in children with language disorders and whether sleep might play a different role in the consolidation of new language for these children. If we find substantial group differences, then sleep might be an important part of the puzzle as to the origins of language disorders and may be a potential target for therapy.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0124
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion