engleski

Features of early communication as predictor of developmental outcome

Features of prelinguistic communication are implicated as contributing factor in later appearing language but there is little research of features of prelinguistic communication as predictor of developmental outcome and social communication problems. The aim of this presentation is to analyze later developmental outcome in children with different profiles of prelinguistic communication. The participants were children who went through developmental assessment (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Mc Arthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories, Reynell Developmental Language Scales and Pragmatic Profile of Everyday Communication Skills) within Early Communication unit due to parent’s concern about their early language development. Their later developmental outcome was checked through control assessment or by telephone survey. Results implicate that already in the age of two, based on communication features and achieved communication milestones at least four developmental trajectories can be distinguished: (a) normal development, (b) late talkers, (c) slower mental and language development (future learning difficulties), (d) autistic spectrum disorder. Results indicate that the emergence of first words is not as predictive for later outcome as the ratio between the frequency of declarative and imperative communicative purposes and measure of social cognition. By considering the features of prelinguistic communication early enough, it is also possible to distinguish between developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and transitory language delay. Early detection and delineation between different developmental profiles is a necessary step for implementing optimal intervention strategies.

prelinguistic communication; developmental profile

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