Why words are hard for adults with developmental language impairments

Karla K. McGregor, Ulla Licandro, Richard Arenas, Nichole Eden, Derek Stiles, Allison Bean, Elizabeth Walker

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    60 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Purpose: To determine whether word learning problems associated with developmental language impairment (LI) reflect deficits in encoding or subsequent remembering of forms and meanings. Method: Sixty-nine 18- to 25-year-olds with LI or without (the normal development [ND] group) took tests to measure learning of 16 word forms and meanings immediately after training (encoding) and 12 hr, 24 hr, and 1 week later (remembering). Half of the participants trained in the morning, and half trained in the evening. Results: At immediate posttest, participants with LI performed more poorly on form and meaning than those with ND. Poor performance was more likely among those with more severe LI. The LI-ND gap for word form recall widened over 1 week. In contrast, the LI and ND groups demonstrated no difference in remembering word meanings over the week. In both groups, participants who trained in the evening, and therefore slept shortly after training, demonstrated greater gains in meaning recall than those who trained in the morning. Conclusions: Some adults with LI have encoding deficits that limit the addition of word forms and meanings to the lexicon. Similarities and differences in patterns of remembering in the LI and ND groups motivate the hypothesis that consolidation of declarative memory is a strength for adults with LI.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)1845-1856
    Number of pages12
    JournalJournal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
    Volume56
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Dec 1 2013

    Keywords

    • Consolidation
    • Encoding
    • Language impairment
    • Memory
    • Sleep
    • Word learning

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Language and Linguistics
    • Linguistics and Language
    • Speech and Hearing

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