Learning language in early childhood occurs through interaction between children and their caregivers. It is a foundational process that allows children to participate in social interactions, learn from the world, and develop other essential skills such as literacy. Having a language delay or disorder is associated with greater risk for experiencing trauma and vice versa. Furthermore, children’s and caregivers’ trauma histories can impact their individual strengths and needs related to participation in early language intervention.
Speech & Language
Supporting individual strengths and needs: New study finds that parenting beliefs are a more effective indicator of strong early language skills in children than socioeconomic status
Research has shown that children with strong early language skills are less likely to have long-term adverse academic, social, and health outcomes.
New insights into language development: The role of joint attention in kids with Down syndrome and autism
Attention is a key component of learning. Think of how hard it is to learn someone’s name if all you can think about is the eyelash on their cheek. The same can be said for language learning.
Listening through the lens of culture: How acoustic environments shape language development
The influence of culture on an individual’s everyday life, behavior, and values is as ubiquitous as the air we breathe.
Hearing loss and cognition both play a role in speech recognition for young adults with Down syndrome
For young adults with Down syndrome, understanding speech is not only related to hearing abilities, but it may also be impacted by cognition.
Behind the scenes of research participation at the Waisman Center: Infant Learning Lab
The lab focuses on studying how infants and young children learn language, learn the meaning of words, find patterns in language and track the properties of speech.
Research seeks strategies to optimize dual language learning in bilingual children
Bilingual children can be flexible in the ways they learn two languages simultaneously.
Estudio busca estrategias para optimizar el aprendizaje de idiomas en niños bilingües
English Los niños bilingües pueden ser flexibles en la forma en la que aprenden dos idiomas simultáneamente. Aunque el ritmo de aprendizaje puede diferir entre estrategias, los niños pueden aprender palabras nuevas tanto en inglés …
How physical environment shapes language learning in toddlers
The environment in which toddlers learn language may have a greater impact on word learning than previously understood.
Rebecca Alper on long-term impacts of early language skills
Early language skills are one of the best predictors of academic, social, vocational outcomes.