A Multi-Method Investigation of Pragmatic Development in Individuals With Down Syndrome

Overview

Journal Am J Intellect Dev Disabil

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2017 Jun 28

PMID 28654411

Citations 15

Authors

Michelle Lee

Lauren Bush

Gary E Martin

Jamie Barstein

Nell Maltman

Jessica Klusek

Molly Losh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined pragmatic language in boys and girls with Down syndrome (DS) at up to three time points, using parent report, standardized and direct assessments. We also explored relationships among theory of mind, executive function, nonverbal mental age, receptive and expressive vocabulary, grammatical complexity, and pragmatic competence. Controlling for cognitive and language abilities, children with DS demonstrated greater difficulty than younger typically developing controls on parent report and standardized assessments, but only girls with DS differed on direct assessments. Further, pragmatic skills of individuals with DS developed at a delayed rate relative to controls. Some sex-specific patterns of pragmatic impairments emerged. Theory of mind and executive function both correlated with pragmatic competence. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Citing Articles

Pragmatic competence in people with dual diagnosis: down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder.

Escudero S, Moraleda Sepulveda E BMC Psychol. 2024; 12(1):74.

PMID: 38360760 PMC: 10870447. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01508-5.

A longitudinal investigation of pragmatic language across contexts in autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.

Martin G, Lee M, Bicknell K, Goodkind A, Maltman N, Losh M Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1155691.

PMID: 37545730 PMC: 10402743. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1155691.

Using the Social Skills Improvement System (SSiS) Rating Scales to assess social skills in youth with Down syndrome.

Channell M, Mattie L, Schworer E, Fidler D, Esbensen A Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1105520.

PMID: 37082574 PMC: 10110963. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1105520.

Variation in morpho-lexical development within and between diagnoses in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Foster-Cohen S, Macrae T, Newbury J Front Psychol. 2023; 13:968408.

PMID: 36710780 PMC: 9878158. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.968408.

The association between expressive language skills and adaptive behavior in individuals with Down syndrome.

Del Hoyo Soriano L, Villarreal J, Sterling A, Edgin J, Berry-Kravis E, Hamilton D Sci Rep. 2022; 12(1):20014.

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