A high-tech approach to boost language skills starts with infants in Detroit

Article Summary:

For many children living in Southwest Detroit, achieving proficient literacy scores has been challenging, with just under 10 percent of third-graders passing the state English Language Arts Exam. Detroit community organizations likeBlack Family Development, Inc. are enlisting the help of LENA technology to coach parents in how they can increase early childhood language skills through talk. LENA Start programs are community-based, equipping caregivers with resources allowing them to tangibly measure and understand their communication patterns with children. Through the use of LENA devices, training sessions for caretakers, and reports that analyze data tracked by the devices, caregivers are able to better understand the quantity and quality of their speech. Detroit organizers are optimistic that LENA programs will give children the head start they need to succeed.