Developmental changes in speech discrimination in infants.
A visually reinforced infant speech discrimination (VRISD) paradigm is described and evaluated. Infants at two ages were tested with the new paradigm on the following speech contrasts: [sa] vs [va], [sa] vs [fa], [sa] VS [za], [as] vs [a:s], vs [a:z], [at] vs [a:d], [a:t] vs [a:d], [at] vs [a:t], [fa] vs [thetaa]and [fi] vs [thetai]. The data reported are compared with data on the same speech contrasts obtained from three month olds in a high-amplitude sucking paradigm. Evidence suggesting developmental changes in speech-sound discriminatory ability is reported. Results are interpreted in light of salience of available acoustic cues and in terms of new methodological advances.
D000367:Age Factors; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008722:Methods; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013060:Speech; D013391:Sucking Behavior