Early predictors of pragmatic language competence: A longitudinal study
Roald A Øien1, Kristian Myre2, Anja Helen Pettersen3
1UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Norway; Yale Child Study Center, USA.
Research in Developmental Disabilities
|November 7, 2025
Summary
Early social-communicative behaviors like joint attention predict pragmatic language skills in children. Identifying these early predictors is crucial for supporting children with communication and social challenges.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Special Education
Background:
- Pragmatic language competence is essential for social interaction, learning, and overall development.
- Difficulties in pragmatics are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, leading to long-term challenges.
- Early identification of pragmatic deficits is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify early predictors of pragmatic language competence in middle childhood.
- To investigate the relationship between early social-communicative behaviors and later pragmatic skills.
- To understand pragmatic language difficulties as a transdiagnostic marker of developmental vulnerability.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study using data from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and Language-8 study.
- Examined social-communicative behaviors (joint attention, declarative pointing, imitation) at 18 and 36 months.
- Utilized the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).
Main Results:
- Early joint attention and social responsiveness at 18 and 36 months significantly predicted pragmatic language competence at age 8.5.
- These predictors were significant even in a general community sample without clinical diagnoses.
- Findings highlight the transdiagnostic nature of pragmatic language difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Early joint attention and social responsiveness are key indicators of future pragmatic language abilities.
- Pragmatic language difficulties can serve as an early marker for developmental vulnerability across various conditions.
- This research supports the importance of early screening and intervention for children at risk of communication and social challenges.
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