Pointing is infants' first communicative gesture
Babies start combining gestures with speech at 11 months, producing deictic gestures like pointing and reaching to inform, not command. This coordination is crucial for future linguistic abilities.
Speech Development
Articles tagged with Speech Development
Synthetic speech system puts a dampener on noisy announcements
Researchers developed a mathematical program to analyze spoken words and enhance sounds that help listeners understand speech in loud situations. The manipulated speech was found to be easier to understand than natural speech, with improvements equivalent to lowering noise by five decibels.
Out of the mouths of primates, facial mechanics of human speech may have evolved
Researchers found that primate lip smacking and human speech share similar frequency ranges, developmental trajectories, and neural controls. This study provides insight into the neural basis of human communication disorders by exploring the evolution of primate facial expressions and their potential link to speech.
Wider cleft width appears associated with hypernasal speech, nasal air escape
A study of 73 patients with isolated cleft palates found a higher risk of velopharyngeal insufficiency, characterized by hypernasal speech, after wider cleft palate repairs. The condition affects up to 32% of patients, particularly those with cleft widths over 10mm.
In the final years of Franco's regime television acknowledged the republican's bravery
A study by Complutense University of Madrid found that Spanish public television began to portray republicans as brave combatants in the final years of Franco's regime. The researchers analyzed TVE archives and concluded that the topic of peace replaced war, highlighting a shift in how the Civil War was portrayed on TV.
LMU speech scientist wins major ERC grant
Professor Jonathan Harrington, a LMU Munich phonetician, has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant to investigate the origins of sound change in languages. His project aims to establish relationships between language evolution and language acquisition in children.
Research shows new therapy helps nonverbal children with autism to say first words
A new treatment called Auditory-Motor Mapping Training (AMMT) has been shown to help nonverbal children with autism develop speech. The study found that children who received AMMT were able to approximate whole words and phrases, with noticeable improvements as early as two weeks into the treatment.
Language intervention provides educational benefits for preschool children
A pre-school language intervention programme has been shown to improve expressive language skills, including vocabulary and grammar, in children with poorly developed speech and language skills. The programme also lays the foundation for phonics and indicates improvements in letter-sound knowledge and spelling.
Complex brain landscape controls speech
Researchers mapped the cerebral cortex to find multiple areas controlling speech, rather than a single Broca's region. This discovery alters our understanding of language development and disorders, requiring future functional analysis of the new organization.
Researchers get $3.3 million grant to investigate language outcomes of bilingual children
A new study will examine speech and language development in bilingual children to identify patterns of language use in those with and without delays. The researchers aim to develop more accurate measurements of language ability, leading to improved interventions for children with language impairment.
Infant sucking habits may affect how baby talks
A recent study published in BMC Pediatrics found that persistent sucking habits in infants, such as pacifier or bottle use, may lead to difficulty producing certain word sounds and simplifying pronunciation in preschool children. Delaying introduction of baby bottles until at least 9 months old can reduce the risk of speech disorders.
Facial expressions say more than 1,000 words
A study by Barkhuysen found that auditory and visual cues together are more effective than separate messages in conveying meaning. Facial expressions also play a crucial role in communication, as seen in the case of Margaret Thatcher who gave subtle signals when finishing speaking to avoid interruptions.
Crime fighting potential for computerised lip-reading
Researchers at the University of East Anglia are developing computerized lip-reading systems that can automatically convert video lip-motions into text. The three-year project aims to improve the accuracy of lip-reading, a skill that can be unreliable even for trained experts.
Born with a love of speech
Researchers found that newborns (10-72 hours old) prefer speech over nonsensical words in a study led by Dr. Athena Vouloumanos. The infants showed increased sucking behavior when hearing human speech compared to speech-like analogues, suggesting an experience-independent component to their preference for speech.
Left and right ears not created equal as newborns process sound, finds UCLA/UA research
A UCLA/UA study reveals that the ear plays a crucial role in processing auditory signals, influencing speech and language development. The left ear provides extra amplification for tones like music, while the right ear enhances rapid sounds like speech.
Apraxia of speech in children is focus of new OHSU grant
A new grant from NIH will help create a diagnostic tool for childhood apraxia of speech, a neurologically based speech motor disorder affecting about one-tenth of 1 percent of US children. The tool will automate existing measurements and develop new ones to reduce human variability in diagnosis.
Babbling key to evaluating speech development in babies with hearing loss
Purdue University's David Ertmer created an interactive website to monitor early speech development in children with hearing impairments. The site provides audio examples of baby jargon, such as babbling and squealing, to help parents recognize progress in their child's speech development.
The language of war
SpeechGear's Compadre language translation technology offers simultaneous two-way translation of spoken language, generating written records and handling nuances of language translation. The system connects to a remote server for massive computing power, enabling seamless verbal communication with individuals speaking different languages.
Baby brains learn to 'tune in' faces, Science authors say
Research suggests that baby brains are more efficient at recognizing faces than adults, particularly monkey faces. By six months old, infants can distinguish between individual humans and monkeys, but this ability declines with age.
Deaf children who get cochlear implants earliest get the biggest language boost, large study finds
A new study found that deaf children who receive cochlear implants at a young age have better speech recognition skills than those who wait longer. The research suggests that early implantation is crucial for language development and can improve communication skills in children with hearing impairments.
Colorado researchers develop intervention techniques for hearing-impaired infants from Spanish-speaking homes
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new method to study language development in Spanish-speaking populations, enabling early identification of hearing-impaired infants and providing effective interventions. The study involved over 130 Spanish-speaking children, showing positive effects on their subsequent language abilities.
Critical stage in infant development identified for language acquisition
A landmark CU-Boulder study confirms that early detection and intervention for infants with hearing loss has a significant positive impact on their subsequent language abilities. Infants identified within the first six months showed improved expressive vocabulary development compared to those identified after six months.
Global prevention, funding and accountability debated in fight against HIV/AIDS
World leaders discuss economic, ethical and human rights issues underlying healthcare resource allocation for HIV/AIDS. The meeting highlights the need for better balance of resources between prevention and treatment, as well as access to essential drugs and treatments.
Top Carnegie Mellon Computer Scientist Will Demonstrate New, Interactive Synthetic Video Interview Technology at ACM 50th Anniversary Celebration
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed Synthetic Interviews, an innovative technology that integrates various technologies to create an interactive experience. Users can ask questions and interact with Einstein through speech or typing, and view him in 3D without glasses.