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Tallas-Mahajna N, Armon-Lotem S, Saiegh-Haddad E. The Emergence of Verb Patterns in Arabic in Children With Developmental Language Disorder Compared to Children With Typical Development. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024:1-21. [PMID: 39058937 DOI: 10.1044/2024_jslhr-23-00558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Arabic verb system features a nonlinear root and pattern derivational morphology. Previous studies suggest that young Arabic and Hebrew speakers' early verb use is based on semantic complexity rather than derivational morphological structure. The present study examines the role of morphological and semantic complexity in the emergence of the verb derivational morphology in Arabic speaking children with developmental language disorder (DLD) compared to children with typical language development (TLD). METHOD Natural language data were collected from native Arabic-speaking children (40 with DLD; aged 4-6 years and 133 with TLD aged 2;6-6;0 [years;months]) using picture-based elicitation tasks, and verbs were coded morphologically for derivational features and for features of semantic complexity. RESULTS The results showed that children with DLD demonstrated a more limited production of verb patterns, both in types and in tokens, than age-matched children with TLD. Also, children with DLD age 5;0-6;0 were similar in types and tokens of verb patterns to younger children with TLD at the age of 3;6-4 years. Moreover, while children with TLD at the age of 2;6-3 years used a smaller number of verb patterns than older 4;0-5;0 aged children with DLD, the two groups were not different in verb semantics. Finally, the morphological and semantic diversity demonstrated by the children with DLD was similar to the morphological and semantic diversity shown by children with TLD. CONCLUSION Our findings support the conclusion that children with DLD and with TLD acquire the derivational verb system in the same pathway and the quantitative lexical differences between the two groups support a delay rather than a deviation from the typical developmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naila Tallas-Mahajna
- Department of English Literature and Linguistics, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Al-Qasemi Academic College, Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Israel
| | - Sharon Armon-Lotem
- Department of English Literature and Linguistics, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Gonda Multidisciplinary Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Israel
| | - Elinor Saiegh-Haddad
- Department of English Literature and Linguistics, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Gonda Multidisciplinary Research Center, Bar Ilan University, Israel
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Matiasovitsová K, Čechová P, Sláma J, Homolková K, Smolík F. Mean Length of Utterance in Czech Toddlers: Validity Estimates and Comparison of Words, Morphemes, and Syllables. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2024; 67:837-852. [PMID: 38416073 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We examined the properties of mean length of utterance (MLU) in Czech, a morphologically complex Slavic language. We compared the scores of MLU calculated in different units and based on different sample lengths and assessed its validity against another transcript and test-based measures. METHOD One hundred nine children were recorded during free-play at 2;6 and 3;11 (years;months). We compared MLU in syllables, morphemes, and words (MLUw) in transcripts of different lengths (50, 75, 100, and all available utterances). For evaluating the validity of MLU, we also calculated Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn) and number of different words (NDW) and used results of receptive vocabulary and grammar comprehension tests. RESULTS The different MLU measures based on different sample lengths correlated closely with MLU in transcripts of all utterances (all rs > .87). We found mostly strong correlations between MLU, IPSyn, and NDW at both time points and weak or moderate correlations between MLU and grammar and vocabulary. Regression models showed the significant unique effect of MLUw at 2;6 for MLUw (β = .29) and grammar (β = .33) at 3;11 and vocabulary (β = .27) at 3;7. CONCLUSION MLUw based on all utterances was confirmed as a valid measure of early language skills in Czech, as it is stable in time and shows concurrent and predictive relations with other transcript-based and test-based measures. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25215203.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petra Čechová
- Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Sláma
- Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Filip Smolík
- Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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Abbott N, Love T. Bridging the Divide: Brain and Behavior in Developmental Language Disorder. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1606. [PMID: 38002565 PMCID: PMC10670267 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a heterogenous neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child's ability to comprehend and/or produce spoken and/or written language, yet it cannot be attributed to hearing loss or overt neurological damage. It is widely believed that some combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors influences brain and language development in this population, but it has been difficult to bridge theoretical accounts of DLD with neuroimaging findings, due to heterogeneity in language impairment profiles across individuals and inconsistent neuroimaging findings. Therefore, the purpose of this overview is two-fold: (1) to summarize the neuroimaging literature (while drawing on findings from other language-impaired populations, where appropriate); and (2) to briefly review the theoretical accounts of language impairment patterns in DLD, with the goal of bridging the disparate findings. As will be demonstrated with this overview, the current state of the field suggests that children with DLD have atypical brain volume, laterality, and activation/connectivity patterns in key language regions that likely contribute to language difficulties. However, the precise nature of these differences and the underlying neural mechanisms contributing to them remain an open area of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle Abbott
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA;
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Tracy Love
- School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA;
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Language and Communicative Disorders, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
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Lai J, Chan A, Kidd E. Relative clause comprehension in Cantonese-speaking children with and without developmental language disorder. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288021. [PMID: 37934774 PMCID: PMC10629646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), present in 2 out of every 30 children, affects primarily oral language abilities and development in the absence of associated biomedical conditions. We report the first experimental study that examines relative clause (RC) comprehension accuracy and processing (via looking preference) in Cantonese-speaking children with and without DLD, testing the predictions from competing domain-specific versus domain-general theoretical accounts. We compared children with DLD (N = 22) with their age-matched typically-developing (TD) children (AM-TD, N = 23) aged 6;6-9;7 and language-matched (and younger) TD children (YTD, N = 21) aged 4;7-7;6, using a referent selection task. Within-subject factors were: RC type (subject-RCs (SRCs) versus object-RCs (ORCs); relativizer (classifier (CL) versus relative marker ge3 RCs). Accuracy measures and looking preference to the target were analyzed using generalized linear mixed effects models. Results indicated Cantonese children with DLD scored significantly lower than their AM-TD peers in accuracy and processed RCs significantly slower than AM-TDs, but did not differ from the YTDs on either measure. Overall, while the results revealed evidence of a SRC advantage in the accuracy data, there was no indication of additional difficulty associated with ORCs in the eye-tracking data. All children showed a processing advantage for the frequent CL relativizer over the less frequent ge3 relativizer. These findings pose challenges to domain-specific representational deficit accounts of DLD, which primarily explain the disorder as a syntactic deficit, and are better explained by domain-general accounts that explain acquisition and processing as emergent properties of multiple converging linguistic and non-linguistic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Lai
- Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Angel Chan
- Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for Language, Cognition, and Neuroscience, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Peking University Research Centre on Chinese Linguistics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Evan Kidd
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language, Canberra, Australia
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Sansavini A, Favilla ME, Guasti MT, Marini A, Millepiedi S, Di Martino MV, Vecchi S, Battajon N, Bertolo L, Capirci O, Carretti B, Colatei MP, Frioni C, Marotta L, Massa S, Michelazzo L, Pecini C, Piazzalunga S, Pieretti M, Rinaldi P, Salvadorini R, Termine C, Zuccarini M, D’Amico S, De Cagno AG, Levorato MC, Rossetto T, Lorusso ML. Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review. Brain Sci 2021; 11:654. [PMID: 34067874 PMCID: PMC8156743 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is frequent in childhood and may have long-term sequelae. By employing an evidence-based approach, this scoping review aims at identifying (a) early predictors of DLD; (b) the optimal age range for the use of screening and diagnostic tools; (c) effective diagnostic tools in preschool children. METHODS We considered systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and primary observational studies with control groups on predictive, sensitivity and specificity values of screening and diagnostic tools and psycholinguistic measures for the assessment of DLD in preschool children. We identified 37 studies, consisting of 10 systematic reviews and 27 primary studies. RESULTS Delay in gesture production, receptive and/or expressive vocabulary, syntactic comprehension, or word combination up to 30 months emerged as early predictors of DLD, a family history of DLD appeared to be a major risk factor, and low socioeconomic status and environmental input were reported as risk factors with lower predictive power. Optimal time for screening is suggested between age 2 and 3, for diagnosis around age 4. Because of the high variability of sensitivity and specificity values, joint use of standardized and psycholinguistic measures is suggested to increase diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring risk situations and employing caregivers' reports, clinical assessment and multiple linguistic measures are fundamental for an early identification of DLD and timely interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Sansavini
- Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
- CLASTA—Communication & Language Acquisition Studies in Typical & Atypical Population, Piazza Epiro 12D, 00183 Roma, Italy; (S.D.); (M.C.L.)
| | - Maria Elena Favilla
- Department of Education and Human Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Viale Allegri 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy;
| | - Maria Teresa Guasti
- Department of Psychology, University Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20121 Milano, Italy;
| | - Andrea Marini
- Department of Language and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, Università di Udine, Via Margreth, 3, 33100 Udine, Italy;
- Scientific Institute IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, San Vito al Tagliamento, 33078 Pordenone, Italy
| | | | - Maria Valeria Di Martino
- Health Professions Integrated Service, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli di Napoli, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Simona Vecchi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 112, 00154 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nadia Battajon
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Mother and Child Department, Ca’ Foncello Hospital, Via Sant’Ambrogio di Fiera, 37, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Laura Bertolo
- AIRIPA Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca e l’Intervento nella Psicopatologia dell’Apprendimento, Via Astichello, 10, 35135, Padova, Galleria G. Berchet, 3, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Olga Capirci
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Via Nomentana 56, 00161 Rome, Italy; (O.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Barbara Carretti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Maria Paola Colatei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Palazzo Camponeschi, Piazza Santa Margherita 2, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Cristina Frioni
- Studio di Psicoterapia e Riabilitazione dell’età evolutiva, Via Annone 1, 00199 Roma, Italy;
| | - Luigi Marotta
- Department of Intensive and Robotic Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Lungomare Marconi 36, 00058 S. Marinella, Roma, Italy;
| | - Sara Massa
- Azienda Usl Toscana Centro, Piazza Santa Maria Nuova 1, 50121 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Letizia Michelazzo
- Federazione Logopedisti Italiani, Via Daniello Bartoli, 00152 Roma, Italy; (L.M.); (M.P.); (A.G.D.C.); (T.R.)
| | - Chiara Pecini
- Department of Education, Languages, Intercultures, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Complesso di San Salvi, Padiglione 26, Via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Silvia Piazzalunga
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G.B.Grassi, 74, 20157 Milano, Italy;
| | - Manuela Pieretti
- Federazione Logopedisti Italiani, Via Daniello Bartoli, 00152 Roma, Italy; (L.M.); (M.P.); (A.G.D.C.); (T.R.)
| | - Pasquale Rinaldi
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Via Nomentana 56, 00161 Rome, Italy; (O.C.); (P.R.)
| | - Renata Salvadorini
- UO Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128 Calambrone, Italy;
| | - Cristiano Termine
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via Ravasi 2, 21100 Varese, Italy;
| | - Mariagrazia Zuccarini
- Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Simonetta D’Amico
- CLASTA—Communication & Language Acquisition Studies in Typical & Atypical Population, Piazza Epiro 12D, 00183 Roma, Italy; (S.D.); (M.C.L.)
- Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, P.le S. Tommasi, 1, 67100 Coppito, Italy
| | - Anna Giulia De Cagno
- Federazione Logopedisti Italiani, Via Daniello Bartoli, 00152 Roma, Italy; (L.M.); (M.P.); (A.G.D.C.); (T.R.)
| | - Maria Chiara Levorato
- CLASTA—Communication & Language Acquisition Studies in Typical & Atypical Population, Piazza Epiro 12D, 00183 Roma, Italy; (S.D.); (M.C.L.)
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Tiziana Rossetto
- Federazione Logopedisti Italiani, Via Daniello Bartoli, 00152 Roma, Italy; (L.M.); (M.P.); (A.G.D.C.); (T.R.)
| | - Maria Luisa Lorusso
- Department of Child Psychopathology, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza 20, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy;
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Taha J, Stojanovik V, Pagnamenta E. Expressive Verb Morphology Deficits in Arabic-Speaking Children With Developmental Language Disorder. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2021; 64:561-578. [PMID: 33539181 DOI: 10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Purpose This study investigated the production of tense and subject-verb agreement in Palestinian Arabic-speaking children with developmental language disorder (DLD) in comparison to their typically developing (TD) peers in terms of (a) performance accuracy and (b) error patterns. Method Participants were 14 children with DLD aged 4;0-7;10 and 32 TD children aged 3;0-8;0 matched on nonverbal abilities. Children were asked to complete a picture-based verb elicitation task. The task was designed to measure the production accuracy of tense and subject-verb agreement inflections in Arabic. Results The DLD group scored significantly lower than the TD group on the verb elicitation task. The DLD group was significantly less accurate than the TD group in marking tense, specifically present tense. They were also less accurate in marking agreement in general, with specific difficulty in using feminine verb forms. The DLD and TD groups differed in their tense error patterns, but not in agreement error patterns. Conclusions The acquisition of verb morphology in Palestinian Arabic-speaking children with DLD appears to be delayed and possibly different from their TD peers. The DLD group found the production of marked verb forms more challenging than less marked ones. These results are discussed in light of the structural characteristics of Arabic. Future studies would need to include larger sample sizes; investigate other aspects of verb morphology, including both production and comprehension; include other language domains; and consider longitudinal designs to provide more in-depth knowledge of Arabic language acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhayna Taha
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
- Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Birzeit University, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
| | - Vesna Stojanovik
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Pagnamenta
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
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Joye N, Dockrell JE, Marshall CR. The Spelling Errors of French and English Children With Developmental Language Disorder at the End of Primary School. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1789. [PMID: 32793078 PMCID: PMC7386207 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) often struggle learning to spell. However, it is still unclear where their spelling difficulties lie, and whether they reflect on-going difficulties with specific linguistic domains. It is also unclear whether the spelling profiles of these children vary in different orthographies. The present study compares the spelling profiles of monolingual children with DLD in France and England at the end of primary school. By contrasting these cohorts, we explored the linguistic constraints that affect spelling, beyond phono-graphemic transparency, in two opaque orthographies. Seventeen French and 17 English children with DLD were compared to typically developing children matched for age or spelling level. Participants wrote a 5 min sample of free writing and spelled 12 controlled dictated words. Spelling errors were analyzed to capture areas of difficulty in each language, in the phonological, morphological, orthographic and semantic domains. Overall, the nature of the errors produced by children with DLD is representative of their spelling level in both languages. However, areas of difficulty vary with the language and task, with more morphological errors in French than in English across both tasks and more orthographic errors in English than in French dictated words. The error types produced by children with DLD also differed in the two languages: segmentation and contraction errors were found in French, whilst morphological ending errors were found in English. It is hypothesized that these differences reflect the phonological salience of the units misspelled in both languages. The present study also provides a detailed breakdown of the spelling errors found in both languages for children with DLD and typical peers aged 5–11.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Joye
- Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice, Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julie E Dockrell
- Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice, Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chloë R Marshall
- Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice, Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Hasselaar J, Letts C, McKean C. Verb morphology in German-speaking children with developmental language disorder and phonological impairment. CLINICAL LINGUISTICS & PHONETICS 2020; 34:671-691. [PMID: 31752550 DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2019.1692076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The verb inflections of matched groups of German-speaking children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and phonological impairment (PI) were evaluated, and performance compared with age-matched and language-matched typically developing (TD) children (66 participants in total). An elicitation task for second- and third-person singular present tense inflections was used and spontaneous language samples were also analysed for present tense inflections. Errors resulting from the children's speech difficulties were excluded from the analysis. Evidence was found in the elicited data for delayed development in the DLD children, but no differences were found between this group and the TD group matched on language development. Both clinical groups made errors consistent with bare stem- and prosodic factors described in the literature. The children with PI, although scoring within normal limits on standardised tests of language, displayed difficulties with tense inflections that went beyond limitations imposed by their speech. This suggests there may be underlying difficulties in both phonological and grammatical domains for both clinical groups, and potential interaction between these domains. It is recommended that clinicians take account of this possibility when assessing and identifying children with DLD and with PI, and that they avoid reliance on standardised language tests or assessment of grammatical morphology alone when assessing for DLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Hasselaar
- Department for Educational Counselling, Caritasverband Kleve e.V ., Kleve, Germany
| | - Carolyn Letts
- School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Cristina McKean
- School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Bruinsma G, Wijnen F, Gerrits E. Focused Stimulation Intervention in 4- and 5-Year-Old Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Exploring Implementation in Clinical Practice. Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch 2020; 51:247-269. [PMID: 32255743 DOI: 10.1044/2020_lshss-19-00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Applying evidence-based grammar intervention can be challenging for speech and language therapists (SLTs). Language in Interaction Therapy (LIT) is a focused stimulation intervention for children with weak morphosyntactic skills, which was developed to support SLTs in incorporating results from effect studies in daily practice. The aims of this Clinical Focus are (a) to explain the principles and elements of LIT and stimulate use in daily SLT practice and (b) to describe the effects of LIT on morphosyntactic skills of 4- to 5-year-olds in special education, compared to usual care. Method With a description of LIT, we provide guidance to implement evidence-based intervention. Important elements are as follows: proper selection of therapy goals, language facilitating techniques, child-centered and clinician-directed elements, and the use of scripts. Our focus in the description is on the support and practical solutions LIT tries to provide to SLTs. We also explored the implementation of LIT in special education, to improve morphosyntax in 4- and 5-year-old children. We provided SLTs with training and designed protocols for each therapy session. The effects of LIT were measured in a single-case A-B design, repeated in five children with developmental language disorders (ages 4;2-5;7 [years;months]). Conclusion We conclude that implementation of LIT is possible if LIT is enriched with support in goal selection, protocols to guide therapy sessions, and training and coaching. In the single-case study, four children showed more growth in mean length of utterance during and directly following the LIT intervention phase, compared to the baseline phase with usual care, and in two of them, this difference was significant. The grammatical complexity measure "TARSP-P" showed an overall significantly higher score at group level during LIT, but limited effects on an individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerda Bruinsma
- Research Center for Healthy and Sustainable Living, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Wijnen
- Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL-OTS), Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen Gerrits
- Research Center for Healthy and Sustainable Living, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL-OTS), Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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Ullman MT, Earle FS, Walenski M, Janacsek K. The Neurocognition of Developmental Disorders of Language. Annu Rev Psychol 2020; 71:389-417. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-psych-122216-011555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Developmental disorders of language include developmental language disorder, dyslexia, and motor-speech disorders such as articulation disorder and stuttering. These disorders have generally been explained by accounts that focus on their behavioral rather than neural characteristics; their processing rather than learning impairments; and each disorder separately rather than together, despite their commonalities and comorbidities. Here we update and review a unifying neurocognitive account—the Procedural circuit Deficit Hypothesis (PDH). The PDH posits that abnormalities of brain structures underlying procedural memory (learning and memory that rely on the basal ganglia and associated circuitry) can explain numerous brain and behavioral characteristics across learning and processing, in multiple disorders, including both commonalities and differences. We describe procedural memory, examine its role in various aspects of language, and then present the PDH and relevant evidence across language-related disorders. The PDH has substantial explanatory power, and both basic research and translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T. Ullman
- Brain and Language Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - F. Sayako Earle
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19713, USA
| | - Matthew Walenski
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Karolina Janacsek
- Institute of Psychology, Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE), H-1071 Budapest, Hungary
- Brain, Memory, and Language Lab; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Coloma Tirapegui CJ, Rojas Contreras DP, De Barbieri Ortiz ZDC. Grammar intervention in children with specific language impairment: an integrative literature review. REVISTA CEFAC 2019. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0216/201921417818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Aim: to review the literature reporting grammar-based interventions designed to improve morphosyntactic skills among children with specific language impairment (SLI). Methods: several studies reporting grammar-based interventions were analyzed. The criteria for selecting the articles were determined as follows: a) publication date within the last ten years; b) studies that reported a grammar-based intervention; c) groups of study constituted by children with SLI, aged 3.0 to 12.0 years; d) design including Pre and Post measures; e) articles reporting quantitative/qualitative data analyses. The databases selected for this review were: Lilacs, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ISI-Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. Results: most studies reported interventions focused on expressive grammar, providing no particular details about the specific grammar contents considered. Interventions usually consisted of implicit approaches implemented as individual therapy. Studies reported children with SLI as generally improving on intervened skills. Conclusion: all of the grammar-based intervention programs described in the selected studies, seemed to be equally adequate when working with children with SLI.
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