Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome
Background. Few individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) successfully meet adult normative expectations in education, employment, peer relations, and habitation, although there is within-syndrome variability in this regard. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether expressive language...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1179 |
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| author | Leonard Abbeduto Jessica Klusek Julie Lounds Taylor Nadia Abdelnur Nicole Sparapani Angela John Thurman |
| author_facet | Leonard Abbeduto Jessica Klusek Julie Lounds Taylor Nadia Abdelnur Nicole Sparapani Angela John Thurman |
| author_sort | Leonard Abbeduto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Few individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) successfully meet adult normative expectations in education, employment, peer relations, and habitation, although there is within-syndrome variability in this regard. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether expressive language skills contribute to the capacity for independent functioning in adulthood even after controlling for nonverbal cognitive ability. Methods. Participants were 18- to 23-year-olds with FXS. Expressive language was assessed using the psychometrically validated Expressive Language Sampling (ELS) conversation and narration procedures. The language produced was transcribed and analyzed to yield measures of expressive vocabulary, syntax, and intelligibility. Parents concurrently completed questionnaires on the independent functioning of the participants with FXS. Results. All three ELS measures were significantly corelated with multiple measures of independence. The magnitudes of the correlations were reduced when nonverbal IQ was controlled through partial correlation. Nonetheless, many of the partial correlations were medium to large and several were statistically significant. Conclusions. Expressive language skills appear to contribute uniquely to the capacity for independence, although longitudinal data are needed to evaluate the possibility of a bidirectional relationship between these domains. Thus, language intervention may be a prerequisite for preparing youth with FXS for an independent adult life. |
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| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff1bb4ae68374e8888a35bdfe20132a92023-11-22T12:14:16ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252021-09-01119117910.3390/brainsci11091179Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X SyndromeLeonard Abbeduto0Jessica Klusek1Julie Lounds Taylor2Nadia Abdelnur3Nicole Sparapani4Angela John Thurman5MIND Institute & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USADepartment of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USAMIND Institute & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USAMIND Institute & School of Education, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAMIND Institute & Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95817, USABackground. Few individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) successfully meet adult normative expectations in education, employment, peer relations, and habitation, although there is within-syndrome variability in this regard. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether expressive language skills contribute to the capacity for independent functioning in adulthood even after controlling for nonverbal cognitive ability. Methods. Participants were 18- to 23-year-olds with FXS. Expressive language was assessed using the psychometrically validated Expressive Language Sampling (ELS) conversation and narration procedures. The language produced was transcribed and analyzed to yield measures of expressive vocabulary, syntax, and intelligibility. Parents concurrently completed questionnaires on the independent functioning of the participants with FXS. Results. All three ELS measures were significantly corelated with multiple measures of independence. The magnitudes of the correlations were reduced when nonverbal IQ was controlled through partial correlation. Nonetheless, many of the partial correlations were medium to large and several were statistically significant. Conclusions. Expressive language skills appear to contribute uniquely to the capacity for independence, although longitudinal data are needed to evaluate the possibility of a bidirectional relationship between these domains. Thus, language intervention may be a prerequisite for preparing youth with FXS for an independent adult life.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1179expressive languagefragile X syndromeindependent functioningdaily living skills |
| spellingShingle | Leonard Abbeduto Jessica Klusek Julie Lounds Taylor Nadia Abdelnur Nicole Sparapani Angela John Thurman Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome Brain Sciences expressive language fragile X syndrome independent functioning daily living skills |
| title | Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome |
| title_full | Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome |
| title_short | Concurrent Associations between Expressive Language Ability and Independence in Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome |
| title_sort | concurrent associations between expressive language ability and independence in adolescents and adults with fragile x syndrome |
| topic | expressive language fragile X syndrome independent functioning daily living skills |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1179 |
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