How children's speech affects babies' language development
Official title: The Influence of Child-Produced Speech on Infant Language Development
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10988749 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the way young kids talk to each other affects how babies learn to speak, and it’s for families with siblings who want to understand more about language development in their little ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $241,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115222-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988749 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include families with infants and at least one older sibling, particularly those in childcare settings.
✕Less likely to help
Families with only one child or those without access to peer interactions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of speech produced by young children on the language development of infants. It aims to understand how infants process and respond to speech from their peers compared to that from adults. The study will involve observing and analyzing interactions between siblings and their parents during play sessions to gather data on speech patterns and preferences. By examining these dynamics, the research seeks to uncover why language development may differ between first-born and later-born children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for fostering language development in infants, particularly those with older siblings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that peer interactions can influence language development, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bulgarelli, Federica — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Bulgarelli, Federica
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.