Episode 175: Sensory Overload vs. Structured Learning: How Children’s TV Shapes Speech Development

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Kaylin Torres, a senior at Boston University in the Kilachand Honors College studying Linguistics and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in Sargent College. Her senior Keystone research project, “Sensory Overload vs. Structured Learning: The Role of Children’s TV in Speech Development,” explores how specific features of children’s media, such as pacing, auditory complexity, language structure, and narrative tone, impact expressive language development. Drawing from interdisciplinary research in developmental psychology, language acquisition, and media studies, Kaylin developed a rubric to evaluate children’s programming beyond the traditional “screen time” debate. Her work highlights how slower-paced, structured, and language-rich content can better support speech development, while fast-paced, overstimulating media may increase cognitive load and hinder language processing. Kaylin’s passion for this field is deeply personal, shaped by growing up alongside her younger brother with minimally speaking autism. She is committed to advancing accessible, evidence-based approaches that support communication for all children.