The Critical Period Hypothesis suggests that there is a specific time frame during which individuals are particularly receptive to acquiring certain skills, such as language. This theory posits that if language exposure does not occur within this critical period, typically thought to be from early childhood to puberty, it becomes significantly more difficult to learn a language fluently later in life. Research supporting this hypothesis indicates that children are more adept at picking up languages naturally, often achieving native-like proficiency. In contrast, adults may struggle with pronunciation and grammar, highlighting the importance of early exposure to language in cognitive development and communication skills.