Pragmatic Language Performance of Children Adopted Internationally.
Deborah A Hwa-Froelich1, Hisako Matsuo2
1Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, Saint Louis University, MO.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
|May 29, 2019
Summary
Children adopted internationally (CAI) show weaker pragmatic language skills than nonadopted peers. Language performance significantly impacts these social communication abilities, suggesting tailored interventions are needed for CAI.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Pragmatic language is crucial for social communication.
- Children adopted internationally (CAI) may face challenges due to early experiences and language acquisition.
- Understanding factors influencing CAI's pragmatic skills is vital for targeted support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the pragmatic language performance of CAI with nonadopted children.
- To investigate the relationship between social-cognitive skills (emotion identification, false belief understanding, inhibition) and pragmatic language in CAI.
- To explore regional differences in pragmatic language among CAI.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental design involving 35 four-year-old CAI (Asian and Eastern European) and 33 nonadopted children.
- Assessment of pragmatic language, general language, and social communication skills.
- Correlational and regression analyses to identify relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in pragmatic language performance were found between adopted and nonadopted children.
- Distinct correlation patterns emerged between the adopted and nonadopted groups.
- General language performance was the strongest predictor of pragmatic language variance.
Conclusions:
- CAI demonstrate poorer pragmatic communication skills compared to their nonadopted counterparts.
- Intervention and assessment strategies for speech-language pathologists should be adapted for CAI.
- Language performance is a key factor influencing the pragmatic abilities of children adopted internationally.
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