title: Language and communication development in Down syndrome.
abstract: Although there is considerable variability, most individuals with Down syndrome have mental retardation and speech and language deficits, particularly in language production and syntax and poor speech intelligibility. This article describes research findings in the language and communication development of individuals with Down syndrome, first briefly describing the physical and cognitive phenotype of Down syndrome, and two communication related domains-hearing and oral motor skills. Next, we describe language development in Down syndrome, focusing on communication behaviors in the prelinguistic period, then the development of language in children and adolescents, and finally language development in adults and the aging period. We describe language development in individuals with Down syndrome across four domains: phonology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Wethen suggest strategies for intervention and directions for research relating to individuals with Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 28599-8180, USA. joanne_roberts@unc.edu
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malkin
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008037:Linguistics / Q000379:methods; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology; D012660:Semantics; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods