Twenty-fifth International Conference on Learning

Abstract

This study is part of a research project which investigated the audio and language environment of Brazilian Portuguese-speaking (BP) homes using the Language ENvironment Analysis system (LENA). Results from the first part of this project deemed LENA sensitive to BP. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the language environment of 11 families of children with normal hearing (NH) and hearing impairment (HI) living in São Paulo Metro area. A total of 14 children were selected, 7 children with NH and the other 7 with HI. Children age ranged between 11 and 43-month-old. Participants were matched in number, age, gender, hearing condition, and SES. Their language and audio environment were recorded with the Digital Language Processor (DLP), which was inserted in the pocket of a specially designed vest. For this study, the whole 12-hour recording of the 7 children with NH was taken into consideration. A Spearman correlation was calculated for investigating the correlation among the LENA variables. Results indicated a strong correlation between child age and the number of CT, CV, and AE-meaningful language. It suggested that children were increasingly more exposed to AE-meaningful language, engaged in joint-conversation, and made more vocalization in relation to their age. The same analysis was conducted with the whole cohort (n=14). Results suggested a strong correlation between AE-meaningful language and CT, CV, and AW. Consequently, the impact of the delay in language development would diminish whilst stimulating a child’s communicative, cognitive, and social development.