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Speech and language development in six infants adopted from China
Johanna R Price1, Karen E Pollock, D Kimbrough Oller
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Journal of Multilingual Communication Disorders
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Internationally adopted children from China showed varied English language development rates. Despite initial differences, most demonstrated resilient language learning abilities by age three.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Linguistics
- Psychology
Background:
- Chinese children constitute the largest group of international adoptions in the US.
- Early communication development in internationally adopted children requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the English language development of young females adopted from China.
- To assess speech and language skills at age three years.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of six girls adopted between 9-17 months.
- English language assessment every three months.
- Communicative analysis at six months post-adoption.
Main Results:
- Significant variability in English language acquisition rates observed.
- Phonological, social-communicative, and lexical skills were intact at six months.
- At age three, four children had skills within normal range, one above, and one below.
Conclusions:
- Children adopted from China exhibit resilient language learning capacities.
- Individual differences in development trajectory are notable.
- Early intervention may be beneficial for children with delayed development.
