Early contributions of observed and parent-reported gesture to language development in children enrolled in early intervention

Early gesture use has been shown to be predictive of later vocabulary development. Children at-risk for language impairments often use fewer gestures as toddlers than typically developing children. A deeper understanding of the nuances of gesture use in communication could aid in intervention efforts for children at risk for language delays. In the present study, 83 mother-child dyads were recruited from early intervention programs to describe early child gesture behaviors and investigate the influence of early gestures on later language development. Deictic and conventional gesture types were measured by parent report and observational frequency during play. Parent report and observed gesture variables were moderately correlated. Results indicate that 25-month gesture uniquely contributes to 36-month language, above and beyond control variables 25-month language, parent responsiveness, and household income. Specifically, parent report of child deictic gesture and observed conventional gesture were statistically significant predictors of 36-month language. Our findings support previous research documenting the importance of gesture in early language development. Encouraging parents to recognize and respond to gestures may be an effective intervention strategy to increase opportunities for positive parent-child communication with children at-risk for language delays.