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The effect of neighborhood density on children's word learning in noise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2018

Min Kyung HAN ,
Holly STORKEL  and
Daniel E. BONTEMPO
Min Kyung HAN*
Affiliation:
Indiana State University, USA
Holly STORKEL
Affiliation:
University of Kansas, USA
Daniel E. BONTEMPO
Affiliation:
Texas Tech University, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Indiana State University, Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, 401 North 7th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA. E-mail: Min.Han@indstate.edu
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Abstract

Many studies have addressed the effect of neighborhood density (phonological similarity among words) on word learning in quiet listening conditions. We explored how noise influences the effect of neighborhood density on children's word learning. One-hundred-and-two preschoolers learned nonwords varied in neighborhood density in one of four listening conditions: quiet, +15 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), +6 dB SNR, and 0 dB SNR. Results showed that a high-density advantage for children under quiet listening condition was significantly reduced as noise increased. This finding implies an adverse impact of noise on long-term outcomes of word learning.

Keywords

childrenword learningnoise
Type
Brief Research Reports
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 2019 , pp. 153 - 169
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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