Factors related to the development of communication in CHARGE syndrome

Parents of 28 children and a young adult with CHARGE syndrome participated in a survey on factors related to communication development. Information was obtained using a questionnaire and a follow-up interview. Parents were asked to (1) specify their child's primary mode of communication, (2) judge the significance of the effects of physical disorders, sensory deficits, and behavior on development and communication, (3) provide lists of their child's conditions and disorders, and (4) provide information about intervention related to communication and education. Thirty-nine percent of the participants (11/28) did not use symbolic language to communicate. The results suggest that factors affecting the majority of participants--physical disorders, vision loss, and hearing loss--may adversely affect communication ability. However, these factors did not preclude the development of symbolic language. Factors that were related to the development of symbolic language were success in the treatment of hearing loss with amplification, the ability to walk independently, and communication training initiated by 3 years of age. Other factors that may be related to the development of symbolic language are also discussed.