Studies Related to Typically developing children current as of Saturday, February 7, 2026
Click on the study title below to receive contact information, brochures and more in-depth information.
Are you concerned about your child’s language or social development?
Looking For:
Typically developing children (6-24 months), autistic children (18-36 months), and children with expressive language delays (18-36 months) presenting with or without concerns for their language development and social communication.
Compensation:
$25-$50 in gift cards
Autism and Language Development in Toddlers
Looking For:
Children 18-36 months of age with autism or with concerns about their social interaction or language development or children 12-36 months without autism.
Compensation:
Yes
CARE: Collaborative Analysis of Relationship Experiences
Looking For:
12 months and Parent
Compensation:
$415
Child Language & Literacy Lab
Looking For:
Preschool and school-age children
Compensation:
Language evaluations at no cost to you.
Cognition and Relationships in Adolescence
Looking For:
Research Opportunity for Children 11-17 Years Old and their Caregivers
Compensation:
Teens will be compensated $70 and parents $50 for completing all assessments.
Healthy Volunteers Needed for MRI Research Study in Children
Looking For:
Healthy child volunteers that are African American and age 6 - 17 years. See flyer for eligibility requirements
Compensation:
Reimbursed $50.00 for their time and reimbursed for gas, if they live more than 50 miles round-trip from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Help us discover how Deaf and hard of hearing children learn to read
Looking For:
d/Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing children ages 10-17 years old who use sign language and/or oral language, or both. No cochlear implants due to use of the MRI.
Compensation:
Yes
Help us learn more about stuttering, Speech, and Language in children
Looking For:
Children who do or do not stutter between 3 to 6 years of age.
Compensation:
-
Participants will be compensated $100 total ($50 per visit)
How do emotions affect your brain?
Looking For:
- All participants must be between 12 and 23 years of age
- Must have smartphone (Android or iPhone)
Compensation:
Participants will be compensated with a $100 gift card for completing all tasks.
Interested in Your Child’s Speech and Language?
Looking For:
3- to 10-year-old children and their parent(s)
Compensation:
Participants will be compensated for their time.
Language Development in Young Children
Looking For:
Typically developing children (6-24 months), autistic children (18-36 months), and children with expressive language delays (18-36 months) presenting with or without concerns for their language development and social communication.
Compensation:
$25-$50 in gift cards
Late Talker Study
Looking For:
2.5-5 year-old English speaking children. Free of permanent metals like implants.
Compensation:
Receive $30/hour for participation!
Little Learners Lab
Looking For:
Children
2 - 4 years of age.
Compensation:
Book to take home and up to $45
Many Numbers
Looking For:
Typically developing children between 2 and 6 years of age, no diagnosis of hearing disorders, normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and English spoken from birth (but not necessarily the child's only language)
Compensation:
You will be compensated $15 for your participation in the study. Your child may be offered a small prize for participating.
Movement and Imitation in Children and Adolescents with or without ASD
Looking For:
8-17 years of age with autism spectrum disorder OR typically developing. Some language ability is required.
Compensation:
Child will receive a $10 gift card and small toy.
Peer Mentors Needed!
Looking For:
Teens ages 10 through 18 with a background in theatre
Compensation:
Phonological Awareness
Looking For:
Rising first graders and second graders
Compensation:
Children's book; Travel compensation to VUMC
Preschooler’s Speech Development
Looking For:
Children who are 4 or 5 years of age who may or may not have speech articulation difficulties
Compensation:
up to $10 as compensation for their time
Pubertal Development in Youth With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Looking For:
We are looking for a large number of boys and girls who will be enrolled at ages 8-16 and followed annually over 4 years. These children would either have confirmed (or suspected) Autism Spectrum Disorder or be typically developing.
Compensation:
Up to $100 per year for 4 years, up to $400 total
Reading and Listening Comprehension in Young Children
Looking For:
Children with typical development, 6;6 to 8;5 years old
Compensation:
Participants will receive up to $50 as compensation for their time
Reading Study for Kindergarteners
Looking For:
Children currently in Kindergarten, with or without reading disabilities, English as first language.
Compensation:
Check for $50 after initial screening visit is completed.
Sign up to learn more about the Child Studies Group’s play-based studies!
Looking For:
Children who are between 2 months and 16 years of age and their parent or guardian.
Compensation:
At the end of the visit, your child will take home a small prize of his or her choice. Parking is provided. Some studies may also compensate with cash!
Social Connectedness and Health in Families Study
Looking For:
Parent and their adolescent/young adult children (ages 10-39)
Compensation:
Yes. For completing the surveys and in-person visit, each participant will receive $100 in the form of an electronic gift card.
TALK ASD project
Looking For:
Children aged 5-7 years old who have autism spectrum disorder OR who are typically developing who:
- are likely to wear a stretchy cap on their head
- are comfortable sitting relatively still at a computer for 15-minutes at a time
- have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing.
Compensation:
$20 gift card at each visit & an outer space goodie bag upon completion
The ABC Study
Looking For:
18+
Compensation:
1,300
The Collaborative Analysis of Relationships (CARE) Program
Looking For:
parents 18+ along with their child 12 months and younger
Compensation:
$415
Words for Thoughts and Feelings
Looking For:
Children ages 3-6
Compensation:
Yes
Would you like to help us learn more about younger siblings of children with autism?
Looking For:
You are the parent of a child with or without autism. Your child with or without autism has a younger sibling who is 12-18 months old.
Compensation:
Participants will be compensated $20 per hour.
Young Children's Language Development
Looking For:
Children ages 3;0-5;11
Compensation:
Participants will receive up to $50 as compensation for their time.
Young Children’s Speech Development
Looking For:
Children who are 4 years or 5 years of age who may or may not have speech articulation difficulties
Compensation:
Participants will receive up to $40 as compensation for their time.