Mother:  My mother-in-law is a difficult woman.  When she speaks to someone she doesn’t like, like me, she speaks distinctly and clearly – like she’s at the verge of yelling at me.  When she’s with one of the kids, she uses this stupid baby voice, all high pitch and soft, like “come here widdle Jakey, Bubba give you kisses!!”   I’ve told her time and again to model good language, but she just refuses.  Jake can barely understand her.

Audiologist:  Why do you think your mother-in-law is doing that?

Mother:  To irritate me.

Audiologist:  What does your husband think?

Mother: That I should “get over it” that it’s not a big deal. But I want Jake to have good language models, his language age has fallen another month behind his chronological age.

Audiologist:  Do you think that’s because of your mother-in-law?

Mother: No, but she’s not helping.

Audiologist:  How much time does your mother-in-law spend with Jake?  And are there others around at that time who give good language models?