Myth or Fact?
1: Baby Talk prevents language development: MYTH
Baby talk, or “motherese,” is preferred by babies due to its innately slower speed and high-pitched tone
Babies, even new-borns, show preference to this type of speech pattern and it helps them learn to discriminate between sounds and words which will given them an advantage as they continue the language development process
2: Children learn language best through TV or flashcards: MYTH
Play and conversation with those who are closest to the child are the best ways to learn language
Learning a word in relation to a flashcard (i.e. labeling “cat” when they see a cat flashcard) only means that the child is able to label “cat” in that specific context and may not generalize to other contexts
3: Boys talk later than girls: TRUE (ish)
Boys do indeed say their first words later on average, however; these differences will even out within a few months
4: Using alternative means of communication (i.e. sign language, speech generating device, pictures, etc.) will impede verbal language development: MYTH
Using picture cues, signs, and other alternative means of communication can actually facilitate verbal language development and gives children a way to alleviate frustration and effectively communicate before they have the verbal ability
5: Children who are “late-talkers” will catch up on their own: MYTH
Approximately 40-50% of otherwise typically developing children do not catch up to their peers on their own
Even if they do catch up, children who are late-talkers are at a higher risk for difficulties in school including with reading and general academic success indicating that the earlier a child catches up, the better
Sources:
Golinkoff, R. & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (1999) How babies talk: The magic and mystery of language acquisition. New York: Dutton/Penguin
Paul, R. (1991). Profiles of Toddlers With Slow Expressive Language Development. Topics in Language Disorders, 11(4): 1-13.
Sennott et al. “AAC Modeling Intervention Research Review.” Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities: 1-15
