Non-word repetition in children with language impairment

Author(s): ReuterskioldWagner, C., Nettelbladt, U., Radeborg, K.

Journal/Book: Int J Lang Commun Disord. 1999; 34: One Gunpowder Square, London EC4a 3de, England. Taylor & Francis Ltd. 337-352.

Abstract: Specific language impairment has, although not without controversy, been considered as a consequence of a phonological memory deficit. Non-word repetition has been proposed as a reliable index of phonological memory and also as predictive of lexical and grammatical development in normally developing and language-impaired children. The main aim was to study the relationship between repetition of words and non-words and expressive language skills (phonology and grammar) in 27 5-year-old children with language impairment. The authors also wanted to explore the influence of lexical stress on repetition skills. The results showed that words were significantly easier to repeat than non-words and that non-word repetition skills were significantly correlated to phonological and grammatical development. The most important predictor of non-word repetition skills was output phonology. The conclusion is that non-word repetition is not a single, reliable index of phonological memory in preschool children with language impairment. Also, the influence of prosodic variables on segmental aspects of speech production should not be overlooked in non-word construction, since it was found that unstressed syllables were emitted six times more often in prestressed than in post-stressed positions of the words and non-words.

Note: Article Sahlen B, Univ Lund Hosp, Dept Logoped & Phoniatr, S-22185 Lund, SWEDEN

Keyword(s): non-word repetition; phonological memory; lexical stress; language impairment; PHONOLOGICAL WORKING-MEMORY; NONWORD REPETITION

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Non-word repetition in children with language impairment - pitfalls and possibilities