Related Concept Videos
Information Processing Approach
18
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
18
Language and Cognition
293
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
293
Language Development
283
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
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...
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...
283
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
23
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
23
You might also read
Related Articles
Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.
Sort by
Same author
Statistical Learning in Dynamic Assessment to Identify Developmental Language Disorder in Spanish-English-Speaking Preschoolers: A Feasibility Study.
Language, speech, and hearing services in schools·2026
Same author
Comparing Self-Efficacy, Self-Compassion, and Growth Mindset Among Adults With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2025
Same author
Examining Potential Mediators of the Relationship Between Developmental Language Disorder and Executive Function Performance in Preschoolers.
Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR·2025
Same author
Science Vocabulary and Science Achievement of Children With Language/Literacy Disorders and Typical Language Development.
Language, speech, and hearing services in schools·2024
Same author
Statistical Learning Among Preschoolers With and Without Developmental Language Disorder: Examining Effects of Language Status, Age, and Prior Learning.
Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR·2024
Same journal
Facilitators and Barriers to Home Exercise Program Adherence in Aphasia: Speech-Language Pathologists' Perspectives.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Same journal
Interprofessional Education Improves Understanding of Aspiration Pneumonia Risk Factors and Interprofessional Competence Among Dental Hygiene and Speech-Language Pathology Students.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Same journal
Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System: Reliability and Dosage of Common Ingredients in Standard-of-Care Therapy for Vocal Hyperfunction.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Same journal
Question Use in Conversational Discourse Among Individuals With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Same journal
Exploring the Self-Perceived Role of South African Speech-Language Pathologists in Youth Correctional Facilities.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Same journal
Progression of Dysarthria, Drooling, and Swallowing Disorders in Parkinson's Disease: A 1-Year Prospective Cohort Study.
American journal of speech-language pathology·2026
Does Executive Function Performance Predict Treatment Response in Preschoolers With Developmental Language Disorder?
1Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
|May 9, 2025
Summary
Executive function skills, specifically attention shifting, predict treatment success in preschoolers with developmental language disorder (DLD). Children with DLD who scored higher on attention shifting tasks showed better outcomes with conversational recast therapy.
More Related Videos
Area of Science:
- Child language development
- Developmental language disorder (DLD)
- Executive functions
Background:
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects language acquisition in preschoolers.
- Executive functions are crucial cognitive skills influencing learning and behavior.
- Conversational recast treatment is a common intervention for DLD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if executive function scores predict treatment response in preschoolers with DLD.
- To determine the role of specific executive functions in language intervention outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Included 49 preschoolers with DLD receiving Enhanced Conversational Recast treatment.
- Assessed treatment response using morpheme production accuracy before and after intervention.
- Used stepwise regression to analyze prediction by language scores and executive function tasks (attention, working memory, inhibition, attention shifting).
Main Results:
- Attention shifting ability, measured by the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS), was the only significant predictor of treatment response.
- Higher DCCS scores positively predicted better treatment outcomes.
- Attention shifting accounted for 20% of the variance in treatment effect.
Conclusions:
- Executive function, particularly attention shifting, is a key factor in language treatment success for children with DLD.
- Clinicians should consider children's executive function profiles when selecting language interventions.
- These findings emphasize the complex cognitive skills underlying language treatment efficacy.


