Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Marschik, PB.
Continuum and Continuity: Development of Language, Hand Laterality, and Cognition.
[ Dissertation ] Graz Medical University; 2006. pp.168.
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Marschik Peter
- Betreuer*innen:
- Einspieler Christa
- Kerbl Reinhold
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- This dissertation is part of the 2nd DPDN longitudinal project on normal and suboptimal development of language, laterality, motor performance, and cognition. The main topics of the studies reported here are concerned with lexical development as well as with hand use preference. Both issues are discussed within their modality but also related to each other. The development of lexical knowledge has been related to neonatal complications, the familys social background, the childs social competence, the cognitive abilities as well as the neurological performance. The development of hand use preference has been reported for single hand and bimanual tasks. Preschool and school handedness quotients were related to reaching behaviour at 5 months but also to the bimanual tower-building task. Finally, the handedness quotients were calculated in respect to a delayed lexical development and to minor neurological impairments. In order to assess the early lexical development we adapted the widely used parental report forms, the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Developmental Inventories, for Austrian-German. The Austrian CDI assessments provided a clear view of developmental changes, establishing the boundaries of variation within and across levels of development. In addition, our investigation revealed a high correlation between parental report and direct assessment of the early vocabulary development. Applying both methods, we found considerable individual differences in the developing productive vocabulary which remained stable from 1 to 3 years of age. Early word production was related to parental educational a vocational levels. A birth order effect on early lexical development favoured first-borns. Furthermore, a lower Apgar score and the need of neonatal intensive care were associated with a delay in early lexical acquisition.By contrast to our short-term follow-up, the prediction into preschool and school age has yielded less clear results. Lexical knowledge at the preschool age could not be predicted from language assessments during the second year of life. In addition, cognitive measures at the late preschool age showed no evidence of subtle cognitive deficits in children identified as late talkers during their second year of life. Seven preschool children exhibited minor neurological dysfunctions, MND. All of them had a delayed lexical development. Motor and language problems might share a common underlying mechanism, such as cerebellar impairment. By contrast to our short-term follow-up, the prediction into preschool and school age has yielded less clear results. Lexical knowledge at the preschool age could not be predicted from language assessments during the second year of life. In addition, cognitive measures at the late preschool age showed no evidence of subtle cognitive deficits in children identified as late talkers during their second year of life. Seven preschool children exhibited minor neurological dysfunctions, MND. All of them had a delayed lexical development. Motor and language problems might share a common underlying mechanism, such as cerebellar impairment.