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Speech and Language Development in Preschool Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

D.A. Hay ,
M. Prior ,
S. Collett  and
M. Williams
D.A. Hay*
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics and Human Variation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
M. Prior
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
S. Collett
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
M. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
*
Department of Psychology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia

Abstract

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While language, articulation and reading problems have been well documented in young twins, it is not clear how extensive such problems can be or how early in childhood they become evident. At the age of 30 months, twin boys in the La Trobe Twin Study were 8 months behind matched singletons and twin girls on expressive language and 6 months behind on verbal comprehension. They were also 5 months behind on symbolic play and this delay was closely related to language. “Secret” language characterised most of the twin boys but not the girls and the relation of this to articulation delays is discussed. To examine if exposure to other children helps the twin boys, 38-53 month old twins and singletons were matched on the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale at the time of starting preschool. The twin boys had more articulation problems and all twins scored much lower on a Sociability questionnaire completed by the teacher. After 8 months at preschool, all children had advanced in Sociability, but the twins remained just as far behind with poor Sociability relating to poor articulation. The role of intervention programs is discussed.

Keywords

TwinsLanguagePlaySociabilitySex differencesPreschool
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 213 - 223
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1987

References

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