Relations between sensorimotor attainments and development of language comprehension in retarded children

Although cognitive precursors of language production have received considerable attention, the relationship between cognitive development and language comprehension is still largely unknown. We report here on an investigation into the relationship between sensorimotor attainments and receptive language skills in normal and retarded infants aged 12-26 months. A major goal of this study was to translate some current notions about onset of representational language and its cognitive prerequisites into some clinically useful procedures both for early diagnosis and treatment of disabled infants. The Uzgiris-Hunt ordinal scales and receptive language tests were administered to 32 infants with motor delay and to 15 normal infants matched for chronological age. Comparison of the resulting scores indicated significant differences in favor of the normal infants on the six Uzgiris-Hunt scales and on the receptive language measures. The cognitive profile of the retarded infants was not homogeneous, some sensorimotor areas (object permanence, vocal and gestural imitation, schemes in relation to objects) showing later onset and slower development than others. Evidence for the parallel emergence of representational ability in language and thought was not as strong as stated by Piagetian theorists. No single stage of sensorimotor functioning prerequisite to language comprehension could be discerned, especially in the retarded infants, who showed considerable gaps between the two domains.