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Research Article
June 2004

Prelinguistic Predictors of Language Growth in Children With Developmental Disabilities

Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 47, Number 3
Pages 663-677

Abstract

This study followed 18 children with developmental disabilities, whose chronological ages were between 3 years and 6 years at the start of the study, over a 2-year period. At initial observation, children communicated primarily through prelinguistic gestures, vocalizations, and single-word utterances. Children’s language skills were measured every 6 months with the Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development–Revised (D. E. Hedrick, E. M. Prather, & A. R. Tobin, 1984). Prelinguistic communication rate and parental responsiveness were also measured at each observation. Development of language over time differed between participants in accordance with their entry-level communication. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that children’s level of gestural attainment, rate of communication, and parent response contingency were significant predictors of language outcome.
KEY WORDS: communication, developmental disabilities, gesture use, pointing, responsivity

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 47Number 3June 2004
Pages: 663-677

History

  • Received: May 1, 2003
  • Accepted: Oct 20, 2003
  • Published in issue: Jun 1, 2004

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Keywords

  1. communication
  2. developmental disabilities
  3. gesture use
  4. pointing
  5. responsivity

Authors

Affiliations

Nancy C. Brady [email protected]
Janet Marquis
Kandace Fleming
Lee McLean
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Notes

Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected]

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