LENA

LENA (Language Environment Analysis) is an automated language analysis system designed to provide parents, clinicians, and researchers with information about the language environment of children. The system includes a small digital language processor that records up to 16 hours of audio, software that analyzes the audio to provide data on the number and type of words spoken by and to the child, and feedback reports that help parents and clinicians understand and improve the child's language environment.

Overview

The LENA system was developed by the LENA Research Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Boulder, Colorado. The foundation's mission is to accelerate language development in children, particularly those at risk for language delays and disorders. The LENA system is used in research, clinical practice, and home settings to provide objective, quantitative data on children's language environments.

Components

The LENA system consists of three main components:

• LENA Digital Language Processor (DLP): A small, wearable device that records up to 16 hours of audio. The DLP is worn by the child in a specially designed vest or pocket. It is designed to be unobtrusive and comfortable for the child to wear.

• LENA Software: Analyzes the audio recorded by the DLP to provide data on the number and type of words spoken by and to the child, the child's vocalizations, and the amount of electronic media in the child's environment.

• LENA Feedback Reports: Provide parents and clinicians with detailed information about the child's language environment, including the number of conversational turns, the amount of adult words, and the child's vocalizations.

Applications

The LENA system is used in a variety of settings to support language development in children. These include:

• Research: Researchers use LENA to study the effects of language environment on child development. The system provides objective, quantitative data that can be used in a variety of research designs.

• Clinical Practice: Clinicians use LENA to assess children's language environments and to monitor progress in language development. The system provides data that can be used to guide intervention strategies.

• Home Use: Parents use LENA to understand and improve their child's language environment. The feedback reports provide actionable information that parents can use to increase the amount of language input their child receives.

See also

• Language acquisition
• Child development
• Speech-language pathology

LENA Resources
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