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ERIC Number: EJ1050389
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Early Handedness in Infancy Predicts Language Ability in Toddlers
Nelson, Eliza L.; Campbell, Julie M.; Michel, George F.
Developmental Psychology, v50 n3 p809-814 Mar 2014
Researchers have long been interested in the relationship between handedness and language in development. However, traditional handedness studies using single age groups, small samples, or too few measurement time points have not capitalized on individual variability and may have masked 2 recently identified patterns in infants: those with a consistent hand-use preference and those with an inconsistent preference. In this study, we asked whether a consistent infant hand-use preference is related to later language ability. We assessed handedness in 38 children at monthly intervals from 6-14 months (infant visits) and again from 18-24 months (toddler visits). We found that consistent right-handedness during infancy was associated with advanced language skills at 24 months, as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III; Bayley, 2006). Children who were not lateralized as infants but who became right-handed or left-handed as toddlers had typical language scores. Neither timing nor direction of lateralization was related to cognitive or general motor skills. This study builds on previous literature linking right-handedness and language during the first 2 years of life.
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Bayley Scales of Infant Development
Grant or Contract Numbers: DLS 0718045; T32-HD007376