Predicting Speech and Language Development at 18-20 Months from Automated Language ENvironment Analysis Measures

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore whether automated measures from Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) at 6-8 months and 12-14 months of age predict speech and language development at 18-20 months.Methods: One-day home recordings from 18 children were collected using a LENA recorder at 6-8, 12-14, 18-20 months. Three automated measures; adult word count (AWC), conversational turn count (CTC), and child vocalization count (CVC); were obtained from recordings at 6-8 and 12-14 months. Number of different words (NDW), consonant inventory, and utterance structure inventory were identified from recordings of 18-20 months. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to investigate whether automated measures of LENA at 6-8 and 12-14 months were predictive of speech and word measures at 18-20 months.Results: The results showed that CTC and CVC were positively correlated with all speech and word measures at 18-20 months. Multiple regression analysis revealed that CTC at 6-8 months could significantly predict NDW, consonant inventory, and utterance structure inventory at 18-20 months. Also, CTC, AWC, and CVC at 12-14 months could predict NDW at 18-20 months and CTC at 12-14 months could predict consonant inventory and utterance structure inventory at 18-20 months.Conclusion: This study highlights that conversational interactions between infants and caregivers have positive effects on children’s later speech and language outcomes and confirms that early language environment plays a critical role in child speech and language development.