Language environment and parent-infant close contact in neonatal care, and emerging lexical abilities of very preterm children- a longitudinal study.

Findings suggest that adult-infant turn taking and parent-infant close contact in the NICU are positively associated with lexical development. High numbers of overheard words in the NICU may not favor later lexical processing. Further research is warranted on the significance of NICU language environment on later lexical abilities.