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Syntax Assessment & Intervention Lab

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TCU’s Syntax Assessment & Intervention Lab (SAIL) aims to enhance the educational success of children with specific language impairment by creating and validating language and literacy interventions. Additionally, the lab aims to increase the understanding of language and literacy skills among parents and teachers.

Current Projects

  • Assessing and treating spoken temporal and casual narratives of preschool children with
    specific language impairment.
  • Assessing and treating explicit knowledge of syntax of pre-professional students
    studying speech-language pathology.
  • Assessing reading errors of 3rd and 4th grade children with and without specific
    language impairment during authentic reading interactions with parents.
  • Assessing and treating explicit knowledge of syntax of 3rd-5th grade children with
    specific language impairment.
  • Assessing word-level spelling ability of 1st through 3rd grade children with and without
    specific language impairment.

Lead Faculty

Danielle Brimo, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an associate professor in the Davies School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at TCU and director of SAIL. Brimo earned her doctorate in communication sciences and disorders from Florida State University. She studies language and literacy skills of school-age children with and without specific language impairment (developmental language disorder).

Brimo is particularly interested in assessing and treating school-age children’s syntax (grammar) knowledge and improving speech language pathologists’ explicit knowledge of syntax.

If you are interested in participating in SAIL, contact sail@tcu.edu.