Federal Project Grant Award Summary

San Diego State University Research Foundation received a $211,287 Project Grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173), awarded May 1, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031. This five-year mixed-methods research initiative addresses a critical gap in clinical care for autistic young adults with structural language impairment, a condition affecting more than 60% of all autistic individuals. The project will deliver evidence-based research outputs including: (1) classification accuracy and psychometric analysis of clinical language assessment measures validated for autistic young adults with grammar impairment; (2) qualitative findings on multi-level barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based language assessment in routine clinical care settings; and (3) stakeholder-informed recommendations prioritizing assessment tools and implementation strategies based on perspectives from autistic young adults (N=115), clinical practitioners, and community partners.

The research employs a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design that integrates quantitative assessment data with qualitative implementation science insights to advance clinical practice and health outcomes for a vulnerable population facing poor adult communication and health trajectories as they transition from school-based services. Deliverables will inform dissemination and implementation strategies that address current obstacles in quality autism-related care, with potential to reduce the substantial economic burden of autism services while improving assessment and intervention capacity for this underserved adult population.