| Caregiver linguistic input to infants has been shown to predict later speech and language abilities. Children who receive more language exposure will show superior language abilities later in life in comparison to peers from language deprived environments. The purpose of this study was to explore similarities/differences in the quantity (total words and total number of utterances) and quality (number of different words and word types -nouns, verbs, and adjectives) of caregiver linguistic input to infants who were typically developing versus those who were at risk for speech/language delay/disorder given pre-or peri-natal difficulties, ear/nose/throat problems, swallowing complications, and/or familial history of speech and/or language disorders. With an archived dataset of 14 caregiver/infant dyads (7 infants who were typically developing and 7 infants who were at risk), we tracked caregiver linguistic input directed to each infant in monthly video recordings from 7 to 18 months of age. It was hypothesized that there would be differences in caregiver linguistic input to infants dependent upon infant developmental classification. Results indicated a statistical significance, with groups differing such that caregivers of infants who were at risk produced more words, different words, utterances, nouns, verbs, and adjectives than caregivers of infants who were typically developing. Findings can be used by speech-language pathologists to help strengthen caregiver education on the importance of linguistic input. Clinical implications, study limitations, and future directions will be discussed. Key Words: caregiver linguistic input, infants, quantity, quality, typically developing, at risk |