Abstract
Speech perception is auditory–visual, but relatively little is known about auditory–visual compared with auditory-only speech perception. One avenue for further understanding is via developmental studies. In a recent study, Sekiyama and Burnham (2008) found that English speakers significantly increase their use of visual speech information between 6 and 8 years of age but that this development does not appear to be universal across languages. Here, the possible bases for this language-specific increase among English speakers were investigated. Four groups of English-language children (5, 6, 7, and 8 years) and a group of adults were tested on auditory–visual, auditory-only, and visual-only speech perception; language-specific speech perception with native and non-native speech sounds; articulation; and reading. Results showed that language-specific speech perception and lip-reading ability reliably predicted auditory–visual speech perception in children but that adult auditory–visual speech perception was predicted by auditory-only speech perception. The implications are discussed in terms of both auditory–visual speech perception and language development.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 120-138 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental Child Psychology |
Volume | 116 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- English language
- McGurk effect
- auditory perception
- auditory-visual speech perception
- children
- speech perception
- visual perception