Maternal education influences Australian infants’ language experience from six months

• DOI: 10.1111/infa.12262
• Publication Date: 2018-09-05T09:55:13Z
• Authors: Anne Dwyer; Caroline Jones; Chris Davis; Christine Kitamura; Teresa Y. C. Ching
• Keywords: Longitudinal Study

Disparities in children's early language skills associated with socioeconomic factors have led to many studies examining environments, but few as yet the first year of life. This longitudinal study assessed home environments 50 Australian infants, who varied maternal education (university education, or not). Full‐day audio recordings were collected and analyzed using LENA system when infants aged 6–9 months 12–15 months. Using device‐specific analysis software, we 12‐h projected counts (1) adult speech input, (2) conversational interactions, (3) child vocalizations. At both ages, higher was words turns, not The adds literature by demonstrating disparities infants’ experience within life, related mothers’ implications for intervention parenting supports.