KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A University of Tennessee, Knoxville, professor has received a $1.3 million grant to study infant language development.

Jessica Hay is assistant professor of psychology and director of UT’s Infant Language and Perceptual Learning Lab.

She received the five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Hay says one of her goals is to understand how typically developing children are able to deal with early challenges of language acquisition.

She believes results of the research could eventually inspire new methods of helping children with delayed language development.

Hay is seeking families from East Tennessee with children ages 6 months to 2 years to be part of the study.

For more information or to participate, call (865) 974-0514 or email [email protected].