0 to 1 minute--well, for crying out loud
We will look, then, at both speech and at some of the major motor developments in those early years.
The first aural communication a human typically makes in life is the fabled Birth Cry. Crying seems to be a simple act, but in reality it is a very complex one, requiring a high degree of body, and hence, neurological coordination.
All of the muscles of respiration must be synchronized together, and also with those muscles controlling the larynx and the oral cavity.
Hence, while the birth cry might be interpreted by the casual on-looker (typically Dad) as meaning, “That was no fun!” But to a doctor or a researcher, it has a more profound message.
It speaks to the neurological health or integrity of the baby. For example the syndrome “Cri du Chat,” can be often diagnosed at birth on the basis of the baby’s crying pattern.
Here, in the notes, is a support group for such children.
NOTES: Here is some further information on Cri du Chat.