Video Story
Watch VideoBaby can read at 17 months
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
Published Fri Feb 29, 2008, 11:30 AM MST
Updated Fri Feb 29, 2008, 12:22 PM MST
Elizabeth Barrett is now 17 months old. She looks and acts like most babies her age, but Elizabeth can read.
Her mother Katy, a speech pathologist who is married to Michael, another speech pathologist, said that most people don't believe their infant is a reader.
"The joke is that since we see kids with language problems, we think anybody with normal language skills is a genius. But as time goes on, it's harder to deny that she's exceptional," said Katy.
Aside from reading books every day, play-time means mom writes down a word on paper and Elizabeth figures it out.
Katy explained that Elizabeth not only reads the word, but signs them as well.
Katy is convinced that sign language helped launch her daughter's reading skills, partly by watching shows like "Signing Times" on public television.
"What's this word?' she asked. "Bear", answered Elizabeth." Yes, it said bear.
Elizabeth talks like she's 1, but she reads like she's 7.
So what does her doctor think? Dr. Steve Stripling, Elizabeth's pediatrician, says at 14 months he saw her sight read the word avocado. "I was floored", he said.
The Barretts say they weren't trying to impress the doctor when they showed him what Elizabeth could do. It was more important for them to know that she didn't have some condition, like autism.
"Elizabeth does not appear to be autistic at all. It looks like this child is going to be completely normal and, likely, will be a great resource for humanity, being as smart as she is," Dr. Stripling explained.
