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Related Experiment Videos

"Twin language": a risk factor for language impairment?

D V Bishop1, S J Bishop

  • 1MRC Applied Psychology Unit, Cambridge, UK. dorothy.bishop@mrc-apu.cam.ac.uk

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR
|March 11, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Twin language, a phenomenon where twins develop a unique communication system, is more common in children with speech-language impairments. This suggests twin language may represent immature or atypical language development.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Linguistics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Twin language, or cryptophasia, is a unique communication system sometimes observed in twins.
  • Previous research on twin language has yielded varied findings regarding its prevalence and nature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of twin language in relation to speech-language impairment.
  • To explore the linguistic characteristics and developmental correlates of twin language.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective parental reports of "twin language" were collected from two groups of twins (ages 7-13).
  • Sample G: 94 twin pairs from the general population.
  • Sample L: 82 twin pairs where at least one twin had a persistent speech-language impairment.

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Main Results:

  • Parental reports indicated "twin language" in approximately 50% of children with speech-language impairment, versus 11% in typically developing children.
  • Children with reported twin language scored significantly lower on language assessments compared to peers.
  • Nonverbal IQ scores were equivalent between children with and without twin language.

Conclusions:

  • Twin language is more prevalent in twins with speech-language impairments.
  • Findings suggest twin language often reflects immature or deviant language development, rather than a distinct language.
  • A small subset of "private language" cases coexisted with typical English use.