Language Intervention and Diagnostic Learning Lab (LIDL)
The Language Intervention and Diagnostic Learning (LIDL) Lab is a research lab directed by Dr. Kirsten Hannig Russell in the Department of Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University. Our research team studies how to better identify children with language disorders and improve their treatment options. We are especially interested in how different treatment approaches impact the learning of grammar skills by children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and children with Down syndrome.
Navigate the Explore tabs below to learn more about our lab or how to get involved!
Explore LIDL
Team Members
Current Projects
Publications & Presentations
For BYU Students
Dr. Kirsten Russell, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Dr. Russell is an assistant professor at BYU and a licensed speech language pathologist. Her clinical experience has been focused primarily on kids (ages 2 to 17) in the public school system. She is passionate about finding ways to help children with language disorders, their families, and improve their access to education. When she is not actively pursuing her research and teaching responsibilities, she loves spending time with her family, baking delicious desserts, and playing the piano and singing.
Graduate Students
Tayri Tanner
Tayri Tanner is from Roosevelt, Utah, and is a graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology at Brigham Young University. She loves music, traveling, and exploring new things. Tayri is especially excited to work with children with speech and language disorders in school and clinical settings.
Kaitlin Palmer
Kaitlin Palmer is from Eagle Idaho. She is a second-year graduate student and completed her undergraduate in Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University. Her hobbies include being outside, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends. Upon receiving her master's degree Kaitlin will work as a Speech-Language Pathologist in either a school or hospital setting.
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Undergraduate Students
Stephanie Clark
Stephanie Clark is from Canby, Oregon. She is a junior in the Communications Disorders program and minoring in Family Life. Stephanie loves pickleball, reading, and spending time with friends. She plans to get her master's in Speech-Language Pathology and work with children in a school setting or clinic. She is planning on graduating from the Communication Disorders Major in Winter of 2027 with a minor in Family Life.
Elisa Ahlstrom
Elisa Ahlstrom is a junior in the Communication Disorders program from Gilbert, Arizona. Her academic interests include pediatric speech and language development. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and work with children with communication disorders. In her free time, Elisa enjoys traveling, reading, meeting new people, and painting. She plans on graduating in April of 2027 in the Communication Disorders Major.
Kaitlyn Lee
Kaitlyn Lee is from Goodyear, Arizona. She will be a senior in the Communication Disorder Program and is also minoring in music. Kaitlyn enjoys to cook Korean food, travel, and listen to music. She also loves being with her friends and family. She is planning on going to graduate school for Speech Language Pathology. Her dream is to work in a clinic or hospital and wants to help make a difference in people's lives.
Megan DeDen
Megan DeDen is from Parker, Colorado. She is a Senior in the Communication Disorders. She loves country swing dancing, playing guitar, and writing. She hopes to open an audiology clinic that specializes in helping families who want to do both auditory rehabilitation and American Sign Language. She is planning on graduating from the Communication Disorders Major in December of 2026.
Lauren Richardson
Lauren Richardson is from Farmington, Utah. She is a senior in the Communication Disorders major, and a minor in gerontology! She plans on graduating December, 2026. In her free time, she enjoys crafts like knitting or embroidery.
Maegan Presley
Maegan Presley is a junior in the Communication Disorders program from Pullman, Washington. Her academic interests include pediatric speech-language pathology, with a particular focus in working with infants with dysphagia. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and work with young children with communication and feeding disorders. In her free time, Maegan enjoys going shopping, hanging out with her fiancé and friends, and painting pottery. She plans on graduating in April 2027 with a degree in Communication Disorders.
Aydri Barlow
Aydri Barlow is from Corvallis, Oregon. She is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders and minoring in Family Life, with plans to get her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She hopes to one day work with children in school settings. In her free time, she loves to play tennis, bake, and spend time outdoors. She plans to graduate in April of 2027 in the Communication Disorders Major.
Ashley MacFarlane
Ashley MacFarlane is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders and minoring in Family Life. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and is especially interested in early intervention. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys reading, spending time with family, and being outdoors. She is graduating in December of 2026.
Ashley McKnight
Ashley McKnight is from Woodbridge, Virginia and a senior in the communication disorders program. She will graduate in December,2026 and plans on attending a master’s program to become an SLP. In her free time, she likes running, playing board games, and watching new movies.
Addie Tonkinson
Aydri Barlow is from Corvallis, Oregon. She is a senior majoring in Communication Disorders and minoring in Family Life, with plans to get her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She hopes to one day work with children in school settings. In her free time, she loves to play tennis, bake, and spend time outdoors. She plans to graduate in April of 2027 in the Communication Disorders Major.
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Current Projects
NOW ENROLLING!
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Language Treatment Study
Does your child have difficulty using words correctly to ask questions?
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The following publications are open source:
Hannig Russell, K. M., Wambaugh, J. L., Davis, J. L., & Redmond, S. M. (2024). Efficacy of complexity-based target selection for treating morphosyntactic deficits in children with DLD and children with Down syndrome. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 33(2), 2939-2971. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00171
Free PDF
Hannig Russell, K. M., & Redmond, S. M. (2024). The impacts of co-occurring developmental language disorder on the academic, interpersonal, and behavioral profiles of children with ADHD. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 10(1), 29-43. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00035
Free PDF
Russell KMH, Wilder A, Wambaugh JL. 2023. Pattern-based target selection for treatment of irregular past-tense: A single-subject experimental design for children with DLD . American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. 32(32):2057-2074. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00038
Free PDF
Russell KMH, Redmond SM, Ash AC. 2022. Psycholinguistic profiling of children with sluggish cognitive tempo . Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699206.2022.2092422
Free PDF
Redmond SM, Russell KMH, Wilder A. 2019. Redmond (2002) revisited: Have standardized behavioral rating scales gotten better at accommodating for overlapping symptoms with language impairment?. Seminars in Speech and Language. 40:272-290. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8939127/pdf/nihms-1785862.pdf
Free PDF
quality of complexity-based treatment
ADHD+DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER: 3 tips for helping kids with ADHD who also have DLD
This resource is from the BYU Language Intervention and Diagnostic Learning Lab.
Complexity Approach
This resource is provided by the BYU Language Intervention and Diagnostic Learning Lab.
Exploring SLP Service Delivery Schedules in a School-based Setting
Comparison of complexity-based morphosyntactic treatment outcomes for school-aged children with DLD or Down syndrome
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Welcome BYU Student! Are you interested in getting involved in the Language Intervention and Dynamic Learning Lab? Fill out the following survey which will be submitted to Dr. Kirsten Russell. She will reach out to you when an opening on a research team becomes available.