Phonological characteristics of novel gesture production in children with developmental language disorder: Longitudinal findings

Abstract

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD; aka specific language impairment) are characterized based on deficits in language, especially morphosyntax, in the absence of other explanatory conditions. However, deficits in speech production, as well as fine and gross motor skill, have also been observed, implicating both the linguistic and motor systems. Situated at the intersection of these domains, and providing insight into both, is manual gesture. In the current work, we asked whether children with DLD showed phonological deficits in the production of novel gestures and whether gesture production at 4 years of age is related to language and motor outcomes two years later. Twenty-eight children (14 with DLD) participated in a two-year longitudinal novel gesture production study. At the first and final time points, language and fine motor skills were measured and gestures were analyzed for phonological feature accuracy, including handshape, path, and orientation. Results indicated that, while early deficits in phonological accuracy did not persist for children with DLD, all children struggled with orientation while handshape was the most accurate. Early handshape and orientation accuracy were also predictive of later language skill, but only for the children with DLD. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: DLD; Gesture; Motor Skill; Phonology; SLI.

Figure 1.. Experimental Protocol and Gesture Stimuli Presentation Schematic with Stimuli Exemplars and Prompts.

CARS-2: Childhood Autism Rating Scale-2; CMMS-3: Columbia Mental Maturity Scale-3; SPELT-P2/SPELT-3: Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test-Preschool 2 or Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test-Preschool 3; FVM: Finite Verb Morphology; BBTOP: Bankson-Bernthal Test of Phonology; MABC-2: Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2; CELF-4: Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-4.

Figure 2.. Mean Phonological Accuracy by Feature Across Pre- and Posttest and Between Groups with Standard Error.

The maximum overall phonological accuracy score is six points. When accuracy scores are separated by phonological feature (shape, path, and orientation), a maximum of two points per feature is possible.

Figure 3.. Mean Phonological Accuracy by Feature Across Time Points and Between Groups with Standard Error.

The maximum overall phonological accuracy score is six points. When accuracy scores are separated by phonological feature (shape, path, and orientation), a maximum of two points per feature is possible.

Figure 4.. Time Point One Significant Predictors for Time Point Three Outcome CELF-4 Recalling Sentences Scores.

a) Time point one mean handshape phonological accuracy; b) time point one mean orientation phonological accuracy; c) time point one nonverbal CMMS-3 scores.

Figure 5.

Time Point One Mean Handshape Phonological Accuracy and Time Point Three MABC-2 Manual Dexterity Scores.