title: Expressive language in persons with Prader-Willi syndrome.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to add to the delineation of the prevalence and nature of language difficulties in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Subjects of this study were 32 Dutch speaking individuals (20 males, 12 females), with chronological ages ranging from 4;6 to 29,5 and total IQ ranging from 40 to 94. Spontaneous speech samples were subjected to a consensus orthographic transcription and analysed by means of TOAST, a Dutch standardized diagnostic instrument to investigate spontaneous language production. It was found that expressive language is usually problematic in PWS. Clearly, different linguistic levels are affected and some levels are more prone to difficulty than others. In general morphosyntax appears to be poor, whereas phonology is fairly good. Difficulties with vocabulary and/or pragmatics may be present as well. Considerable inter-individual variation was found as to the severity of the language problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Ghent University Hospital/Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. john.vanborsel@ugent.be
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Borsel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Defloor
authors.forename: L M G
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Curfs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014825:Vocabulary