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Preferred communication modes: prelinguistic and linguistic communication in non‐speaking preschool children with cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Falkman Kerstin W.,
Sandberg Annika Dahlgren,
Hjelmquist Erland
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of language and communication disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.101
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1460-6984
pISSN - 1368-2822
DOI - 10.1080/13682820110096661
Subject(s) - psychology , cerebral palsy , developmental psychology , cognition , language development , communication skills , linguistic performance , language acquisition , nonverbal communication , linguistics , medicine , philosophy , mathematics education , neuroscience , psychiatry , medical education
Seven non‐speaking preschool children with severe cerebral palsy, 5‐7 years of age, were studied with respect to the amount of prelinguistic versus linguistic modes of communication used in communicative interaction with a previously unknown adult. An attempt was also made to analyse this in relation to the childrens' physical, cognitive and linguistic capacities. No significant correlations were found, however. Given that all participants had reached preschool age and were of normal intelligence, the amount of linguistic communication used (12%) was much less than could be expected. Explanations for the results were suggested, including limited interaction possibilities with the environment due to motor dysfunction, which in turn might prevent development of linguistic skills necessary to take part in more complex communicative interaction later in life.