How children's speech affects babies' language development

The Influence of Child-Produced Speech on Infant Language Development

NIH-funded research State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10988749

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 typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Amherst, United States)
Project IDNIH-10988749 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation include families with infants and at least one older sibling, particularly those in childcare settings.

Not a fit: Families with only one child or those without access to peer interactions may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous research has indicated that peer interactions can influence language development, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Amherst, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.