title: First symbols in a girl with Down syndrome: a longitudinal study from 12 to 18 months.
abstract: Symbolic uses of objects originate in communicative and triadic contexts (adult-child-object). In this longitudinal study we explore the emergence and development of the first symbolic uses in triadic interaction contexts in a girl with Down syndrome between 12 and 18-months of age. We conducted five sessions of video recording, at 12, 13½, 15, 16½, and 18 months chronological age. At each session we videotaped the girl and her mother interacting with different objects. Data were coded in semiotic categories used in previous studies (Rodríguez & Moro, 1999) and a microgenetic analysis was conducted for each session. The first symbolic uses by the girl appeared at 13½ months. Symbols were of different types and levels of complexity, and the adult had an important role in facilitating the production of these symbols.
authors: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile. Electronic address: kcardenas@uc.cl.
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Cárdenas
authors: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Formación de Profesorado y Educación, Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y Educación, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Cintia
authors: C
authors: Rodríguez
authors: Departamento de Psicología, Centro de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Palacios
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D003142:Communication; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D013561:Symbolism; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Adult–child interaction; Down syndrome; Early communication; Symbolic uses