... at an early age is a growing concern in our society. At the University of Arizona, Lena Kyman is researching linguistic differences between impaired and typically developing four and five-year-olds. This study examines implicit learning. She is working in Dr. Elena Plante's laboratory, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences.

The study is designed to determine what children extract from spoken language, and if they can generalize what they take in to similar situations. This is a breakthrough from previous research because it produces a larger change in a smaller amount of time.

While some children focus primarily on the phonology of what they hear, others are able to form rules based on what they hear and apply those rules. Results from this study will lead to implications in the diagnostic practices of professionals in addition to therapy practices in the education system.

Lena will be a fourth year Speech Language and Hearing Sciences student at the University of Arizona. She has been on board since May, and has been involved in this study from its inception. She has learned about the trial and error process of computer programming, and perfecting experiments to maximize subjects' performance.

Lena has been able to participate in this summer research through the Undergraduate Biology Research Program (UBRP). UBRP gives undergraduate students the opportunity to take part in research with a scientist in their field of interest. Grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institute of Health paid for Kyman's work.

Lena Kyman, UBRPer in Dr. Elena Plante's lab, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences