An Analysis of Mental State Verb and Complex Syntax Use in Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Using the Visual World Paradigm to Study Sentence Comprehension in Mandarin-Speaking Children with Autism
Published on: October 3, 2018
Morgan Vachio1, Emily Lund2, Krystal L Werfel3
1The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.
Purpose:
Children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) have documented deficits with complex syntax and vocabulary knowledge. Mental state verbs (MSVs) are necessary for some kinds of complex syntax use and communicate abstract concepts needed for academic language. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency, diversity, and syntactic context of MSV use in children who are DHH compared to children with typical hearing (CTH).
Method:
Seventy-three preschool children (23 with cochlear implants, 22 with hearing aids, and 28 with typical hearing) completed a structured language sample as part of a larger assessment battery. Samples were analyzed and compared across groups for use of MSVs, diversity in MSV use, and syntactical context for MSVs.
Results:
Children who are DHH used significantly fewer MSV in complex syntax, a smaller diversity of MSV, and significantly fewer MSV in obligatory contexts compared to CTH. Results for the cochlear implants and hearing aid groups were not significantly different from one another despite differing levels of hearing loss.
Conclusion:
Children who are DHH demonstrate significant differences in the rate, diversity, and complexity of MSV use compared to peers with typical hearing.
Supplemental Material:
https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24091860.
More Related Videos
08:32Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
Published on: September 5, 2019
09:27Using Eye Movements Recorded in the Visual World Paradigm to Explore the Online Processing of Spoken Language
Published on: October 13, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Language Development
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Components of Language
Language and Cognition
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Structuralism
Titchener's approach to structuralism was unique. He...