Article

AIM: To examine the frequency, range, and features of language impairment in a
community sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 5 to 6 years. METHOD:
Children with CP born between 2005 and 2007 were identified through the Victorian
Cerebral Palsy Register.
Eighty-four participants were recruited, representing
48% of the contacted families. The recruited sample was representative of
non-participants. Participants completed standardized measures of receptive and
expressive language, and non-verbal cognition. RESULTS: Language impairment was
identified in 61% (51/84) of participants. Twenty-four per cent (20/84) were
non-verbal. Co-occurring receptive and expressive language impairment was common
(37/84, 44%). Isolated receptive (6/84, 7%) and expressive (4/84, 5%) impairments
occurred relatively infrequently. At a group level, verbal and non-verbal
participants demonstrated deficits across language subdomains (i.e. semantics,
syntax, morphology), rather than in single domains.
Cognitive impairment and
Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V were associated with
higher rates of language impairment (odds ratio [OR] 15.2, 95% confidence
interval [CI] 3.2-71.8 and OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.8-40.3 respectively). Only cognition
was independently associated with language impairment when both of these factors
were considered within a multivariable model. INTERPRETATION:
Language impairment
was common in 5-year-old and 6-year-old children with CP, affecting three out of
five children. Participants were impaired across linguistic subdomains indicating
a generalized language deficit. Findings suggest most children would benefit from
a clinical language assessment. To target services effectively, subgroups of
individuals with CP at greatest risk for language impairment need to be identified.
CI - (c) 2015 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS