Three profiles of language abilities in toddlers with an expressive vocabulary delay: variations on a theme.
OBJECTIVE
The presence of an expressive vocabulary delay (EVD) in the context of otherwise harmonious development has been the main criterion used to define language delay in 2-year-olds. To better understand the communicative functioning of these children, other variables must be considered. In this study, the aim was to delineate and characterize clusters of 2-year-olds with EVD by measuring other language variables in these children.


METHODS
Language and related variables were measured in 68 francophone children with EVD.


RESULTS
In a cluster analysis, 2 language variables--(a) language expression and engagement in communication and (b) language comprehension--yielded 3 clusters ranging from weak language ability to high scores on both variables. Further differences were found between these clusters with regard to 2 correlates of lexical acquisition--namely, size of the expressive vocabulary and cognitive development.


CONCLUSIONS
These results shed new light on the notion of heterogeneity in toddlers who present with an EVD by proposing subgroups among them. A follow-up investigation of these participants is ongoing.
Départment de Réadaptation, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Université Laval, 1050, Avenue de la Médecine, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
Chantal
C
Desmarais
Audette
A
Sylvestre
François
F
Meyer
Isabelle
I
Bairati
Nancie
N
Rouleau
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002657:Child Development; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007802:Language; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007807:Language Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D013067:Speech Perception