title: Pragmatic Language Features of Mothers With the FMR1 Premutation Are Associated With the Language Outcomes of Adolescents and Young Adults With Fragile X Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pragmatic language difficulties have been documented as part of the FMR1 premutation phenotype, yet the interplay between these features in mothers and the language outcomes of their children with fragile X syndrome is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether pragmatic language difficulties in mothers with the FMR1 premutation are related to the language development of their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven mothers with the FMR1 premutation and their adolescent/young adult sons with fragile X syndrome participated. Maternal pragmatic language violations were rated from conversational samples using the Pragmatic Rating Scale (Landa et al., 1992). Children completed standardized assessments of vocabulary, syntax, and reading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal pragmatic language difficulties were significantly associated with poorer child receptive vocabulary and expressive syntax skills, with medium effect sizes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work contributes to knowledge of the FMR1 premutation phenotype and its consequences at the family level, with the goal of identifying modifiable aspects of the child's language-learning environment that may promote the selection of treatments targeting the specific needs of families affected by fragile X. Findings contribute to our understanding of the multifaceted environment in which children with fragile X syndrome learn language and highlight the importance of family-centered intervention practices for this group.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klusek
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbeduto
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051860:Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1; C497683:FMR1 protein, human