Social Class and Language

In a study done by Professors Betty Hart and Todd Risley of the University of Kansas, they found that social class has a big influence on language development. They found the following statistics:

The average welfare child heard about 616 words per hour; the working-class child heard 1,251 words per hour; and the child of professionals, 2,153 words.

If this number is extrapolated over the period of one year the difference is unbelievable:  3 million words heard by the welfare child, 6 million words for the working class, and 11 million words for the child of professionals.

This study showed also that a welfare child received 5 affirmative sentences, and 11 prohibitions in an hour; working class 12 affirmatives and 7 prohibitions; the professional class 32 affirmatives and 5 prohibitions.

In Maine, this statistics is changing because of the free children books given to all newborns in the hospital as well from the offices of primary care physicians. At our office we give free books up to 4 years old as part of their routine physical examination.

I think this is one reason why most children of professional parents are ahead in the class. Talking, reading, singing, and counting to babies really make great sense.

Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP