Babbling and first words in children with slow expressive development

The purpose of the present study is to study early vocal production in order to assess whether it is possible to individuate predictors of vocabulary development prior to the age point at which lexical delay is usually identified. Characteristics of babbling and first words in 12 Italian children with slow expressive development (Late Talkers - LT) are compared with those of 12 Typically Developing (TD) peers. The syllable structure and phonetic characteristics of babbling and first words produced by both groups of children at 20 months were analyzed during mother-child play sessions. The results indicate that phonetic complexity and number of consonantal types are lower in the LT group. The two groups also differed in their use of sound classes and their syllable structure. Overall, it can be said that LTs develop in a similar but slower rate than TDs, as opposed to having an atypical pattern of phonological development.