Investigating patterns to accelerate solutions.
At the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Laboratory at Northwestern University, we research language and other abilities associated with autism, fragile X syndrome, and related conditions. We also investigate their associated genetic, environmental, and neural features.
Our specific study objectives include:
- understanding different developmental strengths and challenges in language and other abilities associated with autism, fragile X syndrome, and related conditions;
- defining subtle language and neuropsychological profiles among unaffected family members that may still be linked to the genes involved in autism and fragile X; and
- documenting the connections between genes and environment in neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism/fragile X syndrome.
Following CDC, State, and University guidelines in order to ensure the safety of our lab members and study participants, the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Lab has adapted a hybrid schedule for staff and students to work remote and in-person.
We’re continuing with our NIH-funded projects in ways that can be completed in-person, online, or via the mail. Members of our research team might contact you to invite you to participate in our studies in these ways.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our team with any questions; you can contact us at familystudy@northwestern.edu, or with our toll-free number – 1.877.275.7187 – which protects your confidentiality by routing to a secured line devoted to our research project.
Recent News
NDL presents findings on sex differences in social language use for individuals with ASD at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism
Emily Landau, 5th year clinical psychology doctoral candidate, presented findings from her dissertation at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism. Her poster, “A Multi-Method Study of Pragmatic Language in Autistic Females," explored sex differences in social language use in storytelling and conversations.
Discussing the utilization of AI to study pragmatic language in ASD at the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism
Dr. Joe Lau presented exciting findings from a collaborative project with Dr. Rob Voigt from NU Linguistics titled, Using AI Large Language Models to Detect Pragmatic Language Markers of Autism during the 2024 Meeting on Language in Autism (MoLA) at Duke University.