Communication abilities and Rett syndrome

Investigated 6 girls with Rett syndrome (RS), ages between 2 and 13 years, to provide comprehensive descriptions of their communicative behaviors. Previous studies have not focused on communicative competence nor on the intentionality of the language used by children with RS. This study concluded that all members of the group investigated were at a preintentional level of communication. Intentional communication has previously been reported to develop in normally developing and intellectually disabled children attaining Piagetian Sensorimotor Stage V in Means-End behavior. The present study also investigated the cognitive performance of the group. We concluded that the preintentional level of communication noted was consistent with the subjects' profound intellectual disability. No Means-End (i.e., purposeful) behavior beyond Piagetian Sensorimotor Stage III could be elicited from the 6 girls. The relevance of this study for therapeutic intervention is discussed.