Date of Award
Spring 6-25-2012
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Lauren B. Adamson
Second Advisor
Dr. Roger Bakeman
Third Advisor
Dr. Jeannie Visootsak
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Maryann Romski
Abstract
Children with Down Syndrome (DS) experience cognitive delays with language being one of the most impaired domains. Exploring the effects of congenital heart defects (CHD), hospitalization, hearing impairment, and parental concern can provide a more precise view of factors affecting language development. Participants were 49 children with DS, 22 to 54 months of age. Expressive and receptive vocabulary size was obtained using a word count with the MacArthur Communication Development Inventory (MCDI). Medical information was obtained from the child’s medical file. Results showed expressive vocabulary was marginally significantly different between children with DS and no CHD, a CHD that did not require surgery, and a CHD that did require surgery, such that children with a CHD requiring surgery had the smallest vocabulary. Children had significantly more health problems when they had a CHD that required surgery. Expressive and receptive vocabularies were significantly smaller for children with hearing impairment.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/3040968
Recommended Citation
Hess, Brittany A., "Vocabulary Size in Children with Down Syndrome: The Effect of Heart Defects, Hospitalization, Hearing Impairment, and Parental Concerns." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2012.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/3040968