Language and dyslexia screening questionnaire

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders awarded Arizona State University $1,398,408 on August 1, 2026, under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173) to validate and implement the Language and Dyslexia Screening Questionnaire (LDYSQ) in pediatric healthcare settings.

The project validates the LDYSQ across English- and Spanish-speaking populations in Arizona and Florida to improve early identification of dyslexia and developmental language disorder in bilingual children. Specific deliverables include validation of the screening tool across diverse linguistic and cultural populations; identification and assessment of barriers and facilitators to adoption in pediatric healthcare settings using the PRISM framework; and development of standardized communication protocols for sharing screening and evaluation results among pediatric healthcare providers, parents, and schools. The work integrates the screener into pediatric healthcare practices as part of the Bright Futures national health promotion initiative led by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study design combines cross-sectional validation with implementation and mixed-methods approaches.

Arizona State University's Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Administration serves as the administrative entity. Work is performed in Tempe, Arizona. The period of performance extends from August 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. This is a Project Grant assistance award.

Abstract

This project aims to improve early identification of dyslexia and developmental language disorder (DLD) in children through the validation and implementation of the language and dyslexia screening questionnaire (ldysq) in pediatric healthcare settings. The ldysq will be tested across english- and spanish-speaking populations in arizona and florida, addressing a critical GAP in screening tools for bilingual children. The project's broad objective is to integrate this screener into pediatric healthcare practices as part of the bright futures national health promotion initiative led by the american academy of pediatrics. The specific aims include: (1) validating the ldysq in diverse linguistic and cultural populations, ensuring IT is accurate across geographic locations; (2) identifying and addressing barriers and facilitators to its adoption in pediatric healthcare settings, using the prism framework to guide implementation; and (3) developing standardized communication protocols to ensure effective and timely sharing of screening and evaluation results among pediatric healthcare providers, parents, and schools. The study design combines a cross- sectional validation phase with implementation and mixed-methods approaches to address real-world challenges. By enhancing early identification, this project has the potential to significantly reduce long-term educational disparities and to improve the developmental outcomes for millions of children, particularly those from underserved communities.