Gesture and speech go hand-in-hand in twins early language development, show studies
Gestures such as pointing or waving go hand in hand with a child s first words, and twins lag behind single children in producing and using those gestures, two studies from Georgia State University psychology researchers show.
Twins produce fewer gestures and gesture to fewer objects than other children, said principal researcher Seyda Ozcaliskan, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. Language use also lags for twins, and language but not gesture is also affected by sex, with girls performing better than boys, Ozcaliskan said.
The implications are fascinating. It shows that gesture and speech go hand in hand in early development in twins. When one is lagging behind so does the other.
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ATLANTA Gestures such as pointing or waving go hand in hand with a child s first words, and twins lag behind single children in producing and using those gestures, two studies from Georgia State University psychology researchers show.
Twins produce fewer gestures and gesture to fewer objects than other children, said principal researcher Seyda Ozcaliskan, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology. Language use also lags for twins, and language but not gesture is also affected by sex, with girls performing better than boys, Ozcaliskan said. The implications are fascinating, said Ozcaliskan. It shows that gesture and speech go hand in hand in early development in twins. When one is lagging behind so does the other.