Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2007;13(1):36-46.
doi: 10.1002/mrdd.20142.

Language development and fragile X syndrome: profiles, syndrome-specificity, and within-syndrome differences

Leonard Abbeduto  1 , Nancy Brady, Sara T Kover
Affiliations
Review

Language development and fragile X syndrome: profiles, syndrome-specificity, and within-syndrome differences

Leonard Abbeduto et al. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2007.

Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited cause of mental retardation. In this article, we review what is known about the language and related problems of individuals with FXS. In doing so, we focus on the syndrome-specific features of the language phenotype and on the organismic (i.e., genetic and individual neurocognitive and behavioral) and environmental factors associated with within-syndrome variation in the phenotype. We also briefly review those aspects of the behavioral phenotype of FXS that are relevant for understanding syndrome-specific features of, and within-syndrome variability in, language. The review includes summaries of research on the prelinguistic foundations for language development and on each of the major components of language (i.e., vocabulary, morphosyntax, and pragmatics). Throughout the review, we point out implications of existing research for intervention as well as directions for future research.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Abbeduto L, Benson G, Short K, & Dolish J (1995). Effects of sampling context on the expressive language of children and adolescents with mental retardation. Mental Retardation, 33(5), 279–288. - PubMed
    1. Abbeduto L & Chapman RS, (2005). Language development in Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome: Current research and implications for theory and practice In Fletcher P & Garman M (Eds.), Topics in Language Acquisition Research. vol 4: Developmental theory and language disorders Amsterdam, NL: John Benjamins.
    1. Abbeduto L, Evans J, & Dolan T (2001). Theoretical perspectives on language and communication problems in mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 7(1), 45–55. - PubMed
    1. Abbeduto L & Hagerman RJ (1997). Language and Communication in Fragile X Syndrome. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 3, 313–322.
    1. Abbeduto L & McDuffie A (in press). Language learning and use as embedded social acitivities: Evidence from autism and fragile X syndrome.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances