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Communication in the early stage of language development in children with CHARGE syndrome

University of Oulu, Finland, speltoko{at}yahoo.com

Kerttu Huttunen

University of Oulu, Finland

CHARGE syndrome is characterized by multiple physical abnormalities, and impaired vision and hearing. In this pilot study, communication in the early stage of language development in three one- to eight-year-old children with CHARGE syndrome was explored using video recorded free-play interaction sessions and a parental questionnaire. The children mainly used gestures, but also vocalization and some signs. According to methods based on the Tait Video Analysis (2003) and the Communicative Intention Inventory (Coggins and Carpenter, 1981), the children used shared attention with their mothers most of the time, with initiations comprising almost half of all their communicative expressions. Intentional communication covered 15 to 18 per cent of the communicative acts. Suggestions for how individual characteristics of communication can be used in parental guidance are presented in the discussion.

Key Words: CHARGE association • deaf-blindness • hearing impairment • intentional communication • pre-verbal • visual impairment

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