Early Communicative Development in Williams Syndrome: A Longitudinal Case Study

Abstract

Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) have a specific and atypical neuropsychological profile, where language is above what is expected for their mental age, although it shows a late onset. There exists only one longitudinal study in infants younger than 20 months old with WS about early language precursors (joint attention, referential and instrumental behaviors, pointing gesture, verbal tags). The aim of this investigation is to evaluate these precursors in a baby with WS (8 to 18 months). Seven sessions of systematic observation were performed (six at baby's home, one at the Early Childhood Assistance center). The Battelle Developmental Inventory was used to evaluate the baby's development in two occasions (12 and 18 months). The results show an atypical development, and he is 5-6 months under what is expected for his chronological age. Attention towards objects prevails over preference for faces, but this one tends to increase. The pointing gesture does not emerge at the end of the observation period and therefore follows the first words that appear. The implications for the comprehension of the early linguistic profile in WS are discussed, as well as the implications for specific intervention strategies in the context of early childhood care.

Keywords: Williams syndrome; early communicative development; face preference; first words; joint attention; pointing.

Figure 1

Results in percentage of attention behaviors: Triadic Attention (TA): Attention to Object (AO), Attention to Face (AF); and Loss of Attention (LA).

Figure 2

Results in percentage of comprehension of referential behaviors: Referential Gaze (RG), and Deictic Pointing (DP).

Figure 3

Frequency of production per minute of Natural Gestures (NG): Imitated Gestures (IG), and Spontaneous Gestures (SG).

Figure 4

Results in percentage of Comprehension of Name and other Referents (CNR): Name Comprehension (NC), and Referent Comprehension (RC).

Figure 5

Results in percentage of Response to Requests (RR): requests requiring Non-Verbal response (NV), and requests requiring a Verbal response (V).

Figure 6

Results in percentage of Verbal Comprehension (VCO): Requests Comprehension (RQC), and Name and Referents Comprehension (NRC).

Figure 7

Frequency per minute of Verbal Expression (VE): Vocalizations (VO), Babbling Production (BB), and verbal labels (VL).

Figure 8

Results in percentage of object permanence and instrumental behaviors: Searching hidden Object (SO), Reaching Objects (RO), and Construction Tasks (CT).

Figure 9

Results in percentage of play behaviors (PL): Play with Objects (PO), and Dyadic Play (DP).