“It seems to stimulate motor production of speech, not just the perception of speech. It’s not just goo-goo ga-ga,” says Matthew Masapollo, PhD, an assistant professor in UF’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and director of the UF Laboratory for the Study of Cognition, Action, and Perception of Speech in the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
The study found that almost 6 to 8 month-old babies (and not 4 to 6-month-old babies) “displayed a robust and distinct preference for speech with resonances specifying a vocal tract that is similar in size and length to their own”.
“We’re trying to engage with the infant to show them something about speech production. We’re priming them to process their own voice,” says co-author Linda Polka, PhD, of McGill University.
The study thereby suggests that the patterns and speaking style to infants (“infant-directed speech”) may be key components in helping babies make words.
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Source: Medindia
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