A Florida researcher will study the ability to pair words with objects to determine if infants born preterm are delayed compared to full-term infants.  A delay in this ability may lead to problems with language development. If infants’ ability to learn word-object relations predicts later language outcomes, it could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention to prevent language delays.

This grant, which was awarded to Lakshmi J. Gogate, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences-Psychology, at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers is funded for two years by the March of Dimes Foundation. 

Preterm infants are at greater risk for developmental delays in language due to immature sensory and motor systems. Preterm birth affects half a million babies each year, including 29,287 in Florida. Babies born prematurely are more likely to die or have disabilities.

One of the ways that the March of Dimes fulfills its mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality is by funding research in several areas including: basic biological processes governing development; genetics; reproductive health and environmental toxicology; and social and behavioral studies. 

Over the past seven decades, March of Dimes grantees have achieved a remarkable track record of advances to help more babies get a healthy start in life. Four March of Dimes grantees have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and one is the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit http://www.marchofdimes.com/ or http://www.nacersano.org/.