title: A comparison of aspects of the maternal speech environment of retarded and non-retarded children.
abstract: This study was concerned to explore aspects of the maternal speech environment of mentally retarded children. Eight mothers were observed in interaction with their retarded children and compared with mothers on non-retarded infants who had been matched in terms of various socio-economic indices and language behaviour. The mothers of the retarded children were found to be significantly more stimulating vocally, more responsive and less directive than the controls. The findings are discussed in terms of possible reasons for such differences and the implications for the child.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D012931:Social Environment; D013060:Speech