Synopsis

The Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS) has been following the speech and language development of a large group of children (>1900) born in the surrounds of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) since they were 8 months of age. ELVS continues to follow this same group of children as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. There are a number of ELVS sub-studies investigating different areas of communication development including: stuttering, autism and bilingual language development.

Summary

Study name Early Language in Victoria Study
Study abbreviation ELVS
Current principal investigator/s Professor Patricia Eadie
Current project manager

Bibi Gerner
Cohort representative (study contact) Bibi Gerner
Phone 0480 263 911
Email elvs-team@unimelb.edu.au
Primary Institution University of Melbourne
Collaborating Institution/s

Griffith University

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

LaTrobe University

Deakin University
Major funding sources National Health and Medical Research Council
Study website https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/elvs-study
Key reference Reilly, S., Cook, F., Bavin, E.L., Bretherton, L., Cahir, P., Eadie, P., Gold, L., Mensah, F., Papadopoullos, S. and Wake, M. (2017). Cohort Profile: The Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS). International Journal of Epidemiology, doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx079
Study focus How language develops from infancy (8 months) to adulthood.
Data availability Yes, in collaboration on a case by case basis and subject to ethics approval.
Sampling frame Maternal and Child Health Nurses approached all parents of babies aged 8-10 months of age, within six Local Government Areas of Melbourne, Australia.
Year commenced 2003
Commencement sample 1910
Intergenerational No
Imaging MRI (sub-study, 2014)
Linkage

NAPLAN – grades 3, 5 and 7

MBS, PBS and AIR – adolescence

ATAR score
Biosamples? Saliva
Ethics approval This project only (Specific consent)
Future research related to this project (Extended consent)

Waves

Wave Year Age (mean, range) Eligible sample
1  2003 – 2004 8.5 months (5-11.3) 1910
2  2003 – 2004 12.1 months (10.7-19.9) 1759
3  2004 – 2005 24 months 1741
4  2005 – 2006 3 years 1647
5  2006 – 2007 4 years 1623
6  2008 5 years 1002
7  2009 6 years 1047
8  2009 – 2010 7 years 1217
9 2011 – 2012 9 years 1166
10 2013 – 2014 11 years 871
11 2015 – 2017 13 years 858
12 2019 17 years 1231
13 2020 – 17-18 years In progress
14 2020 – 17-19 years In progress
15 2020 – 18-20 years In progress