Cooing At Infants Is Essential To Speech Development

Cooing at an infant isn’t just a sign of fondness; scientists believe it’s an essential part of teaching newborns to speak. A new study suggests exaggerated vowels, which professionals call motherese, the ‘gaas’ and ‘goos,' which can be annoying to non-parents, are a crucial part of babies trying to learn. Exposing newborn babies to clear vocal sounds from the time they are born helps them differentiate language from other noises.

Researchers found that infants aged 7 months can distinguish voices from other sounds, even if they are unable to see the person speaking. Scientist discovered that when babies reach 11 months, before they can speak themselves, they have by now learned to distinguish their mother tongue from other languages. Researchers say that when babies reach 7 months the part of the newborns brain connected to language would trigger each time they heard the voice of a human. Five months later the same brain section would only go into action when the child hears a word in the language of their parents.

The study, by the University of Washington academics, is proof that conversing with infants at a very young age is essential for their growth. And the authors added the long, clear vowels, which parents speak at their babies is a vital part of the development process. The infants’ neural activity implies the section of the brain used if already working before a kid learns speaking. Professor Patricia Kuhl said that most newborn babies babble by 7 months; however, they do not speak their first words until after they celebrate their first birthday.

She added that the exaggerated gaas and goos, which parents’ converse with their infants are very significant. Professor Kuhl says when babies hear the words; their brain might find it easier to model the motor movements essential to speak. Researchers saw activity in brain sections referred to as the cerebellum and the Broca’s area, are concerned with the motor movements needed for producing speech.