Disorders of Early Development

Question 1

Acquired Disorders

Answer 1

Caused by insult to the brain (TBI/ABI, early stroke, infection, tumour)
Occurs before language is developed

Question 2

Developmental Disorders

Answer 2

Begins prior to the emergence of language (genetic, neuromaturation, exposure to teratogens)
Idiopathic (cause unknown)

Question 3

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer 3

Early neurodevelopmental disorders
Characterised by abnormal development and brain circuitry = difficulties integrating social interaction and communicative skills
Multiple conditions with relatively similar cluster of symptoms

Question 4

Autism - diagnosis

Answer 4

Lack of: 
Appropriate eye gaze
Warm, joyful expressions 
Coordination of gaze, facial expression, gesture 
Response to instructions
Pointing 

Unusual prosody
Repetitive movements with objects
Repetitive movements or posturing of body
Delay in playing with a varity of toys conventionally

Question 5

Early Identification - Autism

Answer 5

Behaviour = best predictor

• Reponse to name
• Eye contact
• Imitation
• Proto-declarative pointing (w/ joint attention)
• Joint attention
• Family history/genetics
• Phenotype
• Attention disegagement
• Sensitivity to eye contact
• Facial morphology
• Facial morphology (testoterone theory)

Question 6

AICES Study Findings

Answer 6

Early interactions have a major influence on developing brain structures (interactive specialisation)

Question 7

Developmental Lexical Delays

DLDs

Answer 7

Children with small vocab - no poor hearing, low intelligence, brain damage, primary affective disorder
Exposure to nurturing environments, receive normal levels of linguistic stimulation
2 years = fewer than 30 words expressive (7% of cases)
50% will have smaller receptive vocab
Higher risk of language disorders;
Need sufficient lexicon to trigger development of analytical language

Question 8

Lexical Delay vs Disorder

Answer 8

Delayed child = can catch up

Some lexically delayed children may appear to catch up, show residual processing deficts (Locke)

Question 9

Lexical Learning - Lexically Delayed Children

Answer 9

Impairments in social interactions

Social difficulties = contribute to lexical delay/lexical delay occurs due to social difficulties

Question 10

Predictors for Intervention - Language Production

Answer 10

Small vocab for age
Few verbs:
Predominant use of general verbs, transitive verbs
Few intransitive verbs

Question 11

Predictors for Intervention - Language Comprehension

Answer 11

Presence of 6 month delay

Comprehension deficit; large comprehension-production gap

Question 12

Predictors for Intervention - Phonology

Answer 12

Few pre-linguistic vocalisations
Limited number of consonants
Limited variety/rate of babbling
>50% of consonants correct; restricted syllable structure, vowel errors

Question 13

Predictors for Intervention - Imitation

Answer 13

Few spontaneous imitations

Reliance on direct modelling and prompting in imitation tasks

Question 14

Predictors for Intervention - Play

Answer 14

Manipulating and grouping

Little combinatorial/symbolic play

Question 15

Predictors for Intervention - Gestures

Answer 15

Few communicative gestures, symbolic sequences, supplementary gestures

Question 16

Predictors for Intervention - Social Skills

Answer 16

Reduced rate of communication
Reduced range of expression of communication intentions
Behaviour problems

Question 17

Risk Factors for Language Delay

Answer 17

Boys = more vulnerable
Otitis media (inner/middle ear inflammation)
Family history
Parent characteristics (low maternal education, low SES, directive vs responsive interactions, no feedback on language, high parental concern)

Question 18

Acquired Speech and Language Disorders - Causes

Answer 18

TBI, childhood cancer, stroke, metabolic disease, infectious disease, epilepsy