Gaze, Hands, and the Roots of Communication

In this episode of Beyond Words, host Garrett Oyama, MS, CCC-SLP is joined by UC San Diego professor Gedeon Deák, PhD to explore how infants learn to share attention with others and why these early interactions are so important for communication and language development. Together, they unpack the evolving nature of joint attention, including gaze following, pointing, caregiver scaffolding, and the often-overlooked role of hands, movement, and object interaction in early learning.

Drawing from Dr. Deák’s research, this conversation challenges the idea of joint attention as a single developmental milestone. Instead, it highlights how infants gradually learn to coordinate attention through repeated, real-world interactions with caregivers, objects, and their environment. The discussion explores how babies learn to follow attention not simply by watching eyes, but through meaningful experiences that involve looking, reaching, pointing, and shared engagement with objects and routines.

Clinicians will come away with a deeper understanding of how gesture, gaze, movement, caregiver behavior, and object manipulation work together to support early communication development. This episode also connects these insights to clinical practice, offering valuable perspectives for assessing and supporting young children with social communication and language delays.