Early Brain Injury and Adaptive Functioning in Middle Childhood: The Mediating Role of Pragmatic Language

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 835-850
Author(s):  
Cassandra L. Hendrix ◽  
Tricia Z. King ◽  
Justin Wise ◽  
Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa
Keyword(s):  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Early Brain Injury ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Injury Type ◽  
Orthopedic Injury

AbstractObjective:Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often adversely affect adaptive functioning (AF). However, the cognitive mechanisms by which AF is disrupted are not well understood in young children who sustain TBI. This study examined pragmatic language (PL) and executive functioning (EF) as potential mechanisms for AF disruption in children with early, predominantly mild-complicated, TBI.Method:The sample consisted of 76 children between the ages of 6 and 10 years old who sustained a TBI (n = 36) or orthopedic injury (OI; n = 40) before 6 years of age and at least 1 year prior to testing (M = 4.86 years, SD = 1.59). Children’s performance on a PL and an expressive vocabulary task (which served as a control task), and parent report of child’s EF and AF were examined at two time points 1 year apart (i.e., at age 8 and at age 9 years).Results:Injury type (TBI vs. OI) significantly predicted child’s social and conceptual, but not practical, AF. Results indicated that PL, and not expressive vocabulary or EF at time 1, mediated the relationship between injury type and both social and conceptual AF at time 2.Conclusions:A TBI during early childhood appears to subtly, but uniquely, disrupt complex language skills (i.e., PL), which in turn may disrupt subsequent social and conceptual AF in middle childhood. Additional longitudinal research that examines different aspects of PL and adaptive outcomes into adolescence is warranted.

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Lee ◽  
Lauren Bush ◽  
Gary E. Martin ◽  
Jamie Barstein ◽  
Nell Maltman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Standardized Assessments ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Pragmatic Development ◽  
Mental Age

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.

scholarly journals Parental Distress, Parenting Practices, and Child Adaptive Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie L. Micklewright ◽  
Tricia Z. King ◽  
Kathleen O'Toole ◽  
Chris Henrich ◽  
Frank J. Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Authoritarian Parenting ◽  
Orthopedic Injury ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Time Since Injury

AbstractModerate and severe pediatric traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are associated with significant familial distress and child adaptive sequelae. Our aim was to examine the relationship between parental psychological distress, parenting practices (authoritarian, permissive, authoritative), and child adaptive functioning 12–36 months following TBI or orthopedic injury (OI). Injury type was hypothesized to moderate the relationship between parental distress and child adaptive functioning, demonstrating a significantly stronger relationship in the TBI relative to OI group. Authoritarian parenting practices were hypothesized to mediate relationship between parental distress and child adaptive functioning across groups. Groups (TBIn= 21, OIn= 23) did not differ significantly on age at injury, time since injury, sex, race, or SES. Parents completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, Parenting Practices Questionnaire, and Vineland-II. Moderation and mediation hypotheses were tested using hierarchical multiple regression and a bootstrapping approach, respectively. Results supported moderation and revealed that higher parental psychological distress was associated with lower child adaptive functioning in the TBI group only. Mediation results indicated that higher parental distress was associated with authoritarian parenting practices and lower adaptive functioning across groups. Results suggest that parenting practices are an important area of focus for studies attempting to elucidate the relationship between parent and child functioning following TBI. (JINS, 2012,18, 343–350)

A mixed-methods examination of the gap between intelligence and adaptive functioning in autistic young adults without intellectual disability

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110183
Author(s):  
Nicole L Matthews ◽  
Kyla Christenson ◽  
Sarah Kiefer ◽  
Christopher J Smith
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Adaptive Functioning ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Standardized Assessments ◽  
Service Needs

This study examined adaptive functioning, strategies used to develop adaptive functioning skills, and areas where additional services could benefit autistic young adults without intellectual disability. Participants were 21 autistic young adults and at least one parent of each young adult. Quantitative analyses replicated previous reports of an adaptive functioning disadvantage relative to intellectual functioning such that adaptive functioning standard scores were significantly lower than intelligence quotient scores. Qualitative analysis utilized grounded theory methodology and yielded a conceptual model describing the nature and development of adaptive functioning in this demographic. Together, findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the gap between intellectual and adaptive functioning in autistic young adults without intellectual disability. Lay abstract Adaptive functioning describes the age-appropriate skills necessary for independent living. Research suggests that autistic children, adolescents, and adults who do not have an intellectual disability demonstrate adaptive functioning challenges relative to their intellectual ability. Thus, even though many of these individuals have the intellectual capacity to excel in mainstream educational and vocational settings, their adaptive functioning challenges may serve as an obstacle to independence. The research on adaptive functioning in autistic adults is focused on statistical analysis of standardized assessments (e.g. parent-report on multiple choice questionnaires). Qualitative research that examines the narratives of young adults and their parents is needed to better understand adaptive functioning in young adults and their resulting service needs. This study combined statistical analysis of standardized assessments with qualitative analysis of interview responses from autistic young adults without intellectual disability and their parents. Findings replicated previous reports of adaptive functioning challenges and identified influences on adaptive functioning development, consequences of independence, and service needs. Taken together, findings indicate the need for interventions and services that facilitate adaptive functioning development in autistic adolescents and young adults and provide insight into potential intervention targets and strategies.

Co-occurring trajectories of anxiety and insistence on sameness behaviour in autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 218 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27
Author(s):  
Danielle A. Baribeau ◽  
Simone Vigod ◽  
Eleanor Pullenayegum ◽  
Connor M. Kerns ◽  
Pat Mirenda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Childhood Anxiety ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Insistence On Sameness

BackgroundChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have increased susceptibility to anxiety disorders. Variation in a common ASD symptom, insistence on sameness behaviour, may predict future anxiety symptoms.AimsTo describe the joint heterogeneous longitudinal trajectories of insistence on sameness and anxiety in children with ASD and to characterise subgroups at higher risk for anxiety.MethodIn a longitudinal ASD cohort (n = 421), insistence on sameness behaviour was measured using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised at approximately ages 3, 6 and 11 years. Anxiety was quantified at 8 time points between ages 3 and 11 years using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) (parent report). Clusters of participants following similar trajectories were identified using group-based and joint trajectory modelling.ResultsThree insistence on sameness trajectories were identified: (a) ‘low-stable’ (41.7% of participants), (b) ‘moderate-increasing’ (52.0%) and (c) ‘high-peaking’ (i.e. increasing then stabilising/decreasing behaviour) (6.3%). Four anxiety trajectories were identified: (a) ‘low-increasing’ (51.0%), (b) ‘moderate-decreasing’ (16.2%), (c) ‘moderate-increasing’ (19.6%) and (d) ‘high-stable’ (13.1%). Of those assigned to the ‘high-peaking’ insistence on sameness trajectory, 95% jointly followed an anxiety trajectory that surpassed the threshold for clinical concern (T-score >65) by middle childhood (anxiety trajectories 3 or 4). Insistence on sameness and anxiety trajectories were similar in severity and direction for 64% of the sample; for 36%, incongruous patterns were seen (e.g. decreasing anxiety and increasing insistence on sameness).ConclusionsThe concurrent assessment of insistence on sameness behaviour and anxiety in ASD may help in understanding current symptom profiles and anticipating future trajectories. High preschool insistence on sameness in particular may be associated with elevated current or future anxiety symptoms.

scholarly journals The Association between Parent and Child-Report Measures of Alexithymia in Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8309
Author(s):  
Hannah Hobson ◽  
Neeltje P. van den Bedem
Keyword(s):  
Language Disorder ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Developmental Language Disorder ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Child Report ◽  
Child Reports ◽  
Expression Of Emotion ◽  
Communicative Abilities

Accurate measures of alexithymia, an inability to recognise and describe one’s own emotions, that are suitable for children are crucial for research into alexithymia’s development. However, previous research suggests that parent versus child reports of alexithymia do not correlate. Potentially, children may report on the awareness of their emotions, whereas parent-report measures may reflect children’s verbal expression of emotion, which may be confounded by children’s communicative abilities, especially in conditions such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Given theoretical arguments that alexithymia may develop due to language impairments, further research into alexithymia in DLD is also needed. This project examined parent and child report measures of alexithymia in children with DLD (n = 106) and without DLD (n = 183), and their association to children’s communication skills. Parent and child reports were not significantly correlated in either group, and children with DLD had higher alexithymia scores on the parent-report measure only. Thus, parent and child measures of alexithymia likely reflect different constructs. Pragmatic language problems related to more parent-reported alexithymia, over and above group membership. Structural language abilities were unrelated to alexithymia. We suggest decreased social learning opportunities, rather than a language measure artefact, underlie increased alexithymic difficulties in DLD.

Cool executive functioning predicts not only mean levels but also individual 3-year growth trajectories of zBMI in elementary-school children

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-362
Author(s):  
Nele Lensing ◽  
Birgit Elsner
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Growth Trajectories ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Curve Modeling

Executive functions (EFs) may help children to regulate their food-intake in an “obesogenic” environment, where energy-dense food is easily available. There is mounting evidence that overweight is associated with diminished hot and cool EFs, and several longitudinal studies found evidence for a predictive effect of hot EFs on children’s bodyweight, but longitudinal research examining the effect of cool EF on weight development in children is still scarce. The current 3-year longitudinal study examined the effect of a latent cool EF factor, which was based on three behavioral EF tasks, on subsequent mean levels and 3-year growth trajectories of body-mass-index z-scores (zBMI). Data from a large sample of children, with zBMI ranging from normal weight to obesity ( n = 1474, aged 6–11 years at T1, 52% girls) was analyzed using structural-equation modeling and linear latent growth-curve modeling. Cool EF at the first wave (T1) negatively predicted subsequent zBMI and zBMI development throughout the 3-year period in middle childhood such that children with better EF had a lower zBMI and less steep zBMI growth. These effects were not moderated by the children’s age or gender. In conclusion, as early as in middle childhood, cool EFs seem to support the self-regulation of food-intake and consequently may play a causal role in the multifactorial etiology of overweight.

scholarly journals Vocabulary used by ethno-linguistically diverse South African toddlers: A parent report using the Language Development Survey

2013 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurellia Shamaleni Gonasillan ◽  
Juan Bornman ◽  
Michal Harty
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Language Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
African Context

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to ascertain the relevance of the vocabulary of the Language Development Survey (LDS) for typically developing South African toddlers who attend ethno-linguistically diverse early childhood development centres.Rationale: The need for exploration of the expressive vocabulary of this population stems from the diverse linguistic contexts to which toddlers are exposed on a day-to-day basis in South Africa. Many parents prefer English as the language of learning and teaching for their child. As a result, toddlers interact with ethno-linguistically diverse peers from a young age, usually within their early childhood development centres.Method: An adapted version of the LDS was presented to 40 middle-class parents in Mpumalanga. Vocabulary commonly used by toddlers was determined and a comparison of parent responses made between the present study and the original American-based survey.Results: Results revealed that nouns were used most often by toddlers, in keeping with research on vocabulary acquisition. Significant correlations between the two groups were evident in 12 of the 14 categories. Parents reported that nouns, verbs, adjectives and words from other word classes were used similarly by toddlers, despite differences in their linguistic exposure.Conclusions: These findings suggest that the LDS is a valuable clinical screening tool for speech-language therapists who deliver services to toddlers within the South African context.

scholarly journals Effect of Sustained Maternal Responsivity on Later Vocabulary Development in Children With Fragile X Syndrome

2014 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Brady ◽  
Steven F. Warren ◽  
Kandace Fleming ◽  
Juliana Keller ◽  
Audra Sterling
Keyword(s):  
Fragile X Syndrome ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Fragile X ◽  
Vocabulary Development ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Autism Symptoms ◽  
Maternal Responsivity ◽  
Time Period

Purpose This research explored whether sustained maternal responsivity (a parent–child interaction style characterized by warmth, nurturance, and stability as well as specific behaviors, such as contingent positive responses to child initiations) was a significant variable predicting vocabulary development of children with fragile X syndrome through age 9 years. Method Fifty-five mother–child dyads were followed longitudinally when children were between 2 and 10 years of age. Measures of maternal responsivity and child vocabulary were obtained at regular intervals starting at age 2.9 years. Sustained responsivity was indicated by the average responsivity measured over Observations 2–5. Responsivity at the 1st time period, autism symptoms, and cognitive development were used as control variables. Results After controlling for development and autism symptoms, the authors found significant effects for sustained responsivity on receptive vocabulary, expressive vocabulary, and the rate of different words children produced through age 9. Conclusions Maternal responsivity, which is typically a variable of interest during early childhood, continues to be a significant variable, predicting vocabulary development through the middle childhood period. Thus, responsivity is a potential target for language interventions through this age period.

A long-term predictive validity study: Can the CDI Short Form be used to predict language and early literacy skills four years later?

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
DILARA DENIZ CAN ◽  
MARIKA GINSBURG-BLOCK ◽  
ROBERTA MICHNICK GOLINKOFF ◽  
KATHRYN HIRSH-PASEK
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Early Literacy ◽  
Predictive Validity ◽  
Phonemic Awareness ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Parent Report ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Decoding Skills

ABSTRACTThis longitudinal study examined the predictive validity of the MacArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories-Short Form (CDI-SF), a parent report questionnaire about children's language development (Fenson, Pethick, Renda, Cox, Dale & Reznick, 2000). Data were first gathered from parents on the CDI-SF vocabulary scores for seventy-six children (mean age=1 ; 10). Four years later (mean age=6 ; 1), children were assessed on language outcomes (expressive vocabulary, syntax, semantics and pragmatics) and code-related skills, including phonemic awareness, word recognition and decoding skills. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that early expressive vocabulary accounted for 17% of the variance in picture vocabulary, 11% of the variance in syntax, and 7% of the variance in semantics, while not accounting for any variance in pragmatics in kindergarten. CDI-SF scores did not predict code-related skills in kindergarten. The importance of early vocabulary skills for later language development and CDI-SF as a valuable research tool are discussed.

Interactive Focused Stimulation for Toddlers With Expressive Vocabulary Delays

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1274-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Girolametto ◽  
Patsy Steig Pearce ◽  
Elaine Weitzman
Keyword(s):  
Parent Report ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Expressive Vocabulary ◽  
Delayed Treatment ◽  
Focused Stimulation ◽  
Play Interaction ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Target Words

This study explores the effects of training parents to administer focused stimulation intervention to teach specific target words to their toddlers with expressive vocabulary delays. Twenty-five mothers and their late-talking toddlers were randomly assigned to treatment and delayed-treatment (control) groups. Vocabulary targets were individually selected for each toddler based on the child's phonetic repertoire and parent report of vocabulary development. Following treatment, mothers' language input was slower, less complex, and more focused than mothers in the control group. Concomitantly, their children used more target words in naturalistic probes, used more words in free-play interaction, and were reported to have larger vocabularies overall as measured by parent report. In addition, the treatment had an effect on language development—children in the experimental group used more multiword combinations and early morphemes than children in the control group. The implications of these results are discussed with regard to the role of focused stimulation intervention for children with expressive vocabulary delays.

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