title: Reported communication ability of persons with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the communication ability of individuals with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 syndromes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents reported on children's potential communication acts, words, spontaneous gesture, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) using a parent report inventory (n = 32; age range 3-35 years). Potential communicative acts are defined as behaviors produced by an individual that may be interpreted by others to serve communicative functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Potential communicative acts categorized as body movement displayed the highest median rank for reported occurrence followed by vocalization and facial expression. Although symbolic forms were ranked lower, more than half of the parents (66%) reported that their children produced at least one word, gesture or AAC form. Challenging behaviors or stereotypic movement displayed lowest median ranks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are discussed in terms of communication potential and the need to address AAC in trisomy 18 and 13.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA and.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA and.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Braddock
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA and.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Heithaus
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA and.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatrics , Saint Louis University School of Medicine , St. Louis , MO , USA and.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Braddock
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D014314:Trisomy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000073839:Trisomy 13 Syndrome; D000073842:Trisomy 18 Syndrome
keywords: Augmentative and alternative communication; gestures; potential communicative acts; trisomy 13; trisomy 18