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 ∫a, sa vs za, as vs a:z, a:s, vs a:z, at vs a:d, a:t vs a:d, at vs a:t, fa vs θa, and fi vs θi. 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.