Tue Apr 19, 2022 – 12:48 pm EDTTue Apr 19, 2022 – 12:49 pm EDT
(LifeSiteNews) – Early language researchers have said that babies born during the COVID shutdowns of the past two years are saying fewer words than babies born before them.
Education Week spoke to several researchers on this topic who cited face masks as a potential reason for the delays.
LENA Foundation’s language research director, Jill Gilkerson, told the education publication that she conducted a study that measured “vocalizations” made by babies. The foundation’s mission is to help young children grow their “early talk” skills and prepare them for school.
“Gilkerson found on average, that while vocalizations fell for all infants born after the pandemic, the drop was greatest for the poorest 25 percent of children,” Education Week reported.
The study involved nearly 700 babies, some “pre-COVID babies” and others “COVID-era babies.”
“In other words, COVID babies ‘talk’ less,” the study reported. “That means they produce fewer coos, grunts, babbles, and other precursors to speech, suggesting they may be at greater risk of experiencing language delays.”
Gilkerson said some of the stress of the pandemic shutdowns are to blame, as children were home more
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