| This study attempted to identify gaze direction as a predicator for future language development using clinical applicable methodology. Data wasobtained froma longitudinal study of 15 infants from 6 to 18 months of age, with follow-up measures of vocabulary development in the same children at 1½ , 2, and 3 years of agemeasured by the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories(CDI).Correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted to analyze the relationship between the criterion and predictor variables. Results indicated duration of gazes (for all variableswith the exception of cannot see gazes) at 8, 12, and 16 months had an extremally largeeffectson expressive vocabulary at 1 year of age; while the frequency of gazes (for all variables) at 8, 12, and 16 months had an extremelylarge effect on receptive vocabulary at 1 and expressive vocabulary at 2 and 3 years of age. Key Words:vocabulary development,eye gaze, prelinguistic communication, gaze direction, gaze following, joint attention, eye tracking technology, expressive vocabulary, receptive vocabulary, speech language pathology |