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Infant Vocalizations Reveal Early Speech Development Patterns

Study finds babies' squeals and growls cluster together, indicating early vocal practice and potential markers for communication disorders.

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87 percent of infants showed at least one age where their recordings had significant squeal clustering and at least one age where their recordings had significant growl clustering, with no infants demonstrating no clustering. Credit: Neuroscience News
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Overview

  • Researchers analyzed recordings from 130 infants in their first year of life.
  • 40% of squeals and growls appeared in significant clusters, suggesting active vocal exploration.
  • Clustering was observed across all age groups, from birth to 13 months.
  • Findings highlight the importance of early vocal play in language development.
  • Study suggests clustering patterns could help screen for communication disorders.