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Testing the Continuum/Spectrum Model in Russian-Speaking Children With and Without Developmental Language Disorder.
Militina Gomozova1, Valeriia Lezzhova1, Olga Dragoy1,2
1Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia.
The continuum/spectrum model explains language development in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and typically developing (TD) peers. Findings show mixed groups, supporting a spectrum of language skills in all children.
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Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) presents significant heterogeneity in symptom presentation.
- Previous research suggests a continuum/spectrum model best explains DLD symptom variability.
- This model may also encompass typically developing (TD) children with diverse language acquisition patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that a continuum/spectrum approach can explain language acquisition in both DLD and TD children.
- To investigate individual language profiles and deficits within a spectrum framework.
- To analyze language abilities in Russian-speaking children using a standardized assessment battery.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 53 Russian-speaking children with DLD (ages 4-7) and 53 age/gender-matched TD peers.
- Utilized the Russian Child Language Assessment Battery (RuCLAB) with 11 subtests across four language levels (production/comprehension).
- Employed k-means clustering on RuCLAB scores to identify distinct child groups.
Main Results:
- Two mixed clusters emerged: Group 1 (higher scores: 45 TD, 24 DLD) and Group 2 (lower scores: 8 TD, 29 DLD).
- Group 1 children typically showed deficits at one language level, while Group 2 struggled across multiple levels.
- DLD children in both groups exhibited greater sensitivity to linguistic features like word length and noun case compared to TD children.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms that diagnosed DLD children can perform similarly to TD children, and some TD children may exhibit DLD-like performance.
- Findings strongly support the continuum/spectrum model, indicating language skills vary across a spectrum in preschool children.
- Comprehensive language assessment across all levels is crucial for accurately describing a child's language profile.