Research Information System
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
PurposeThis study aims to examine if children at risk of developmental language disorder show differences in social-emotional competence and/or behavioural problems compared to their typically developing peers. It also investigates the correlation between the interactional behaviours of parents and children and how it relates to the language and social-emotional development of children.MethodThe study included 102 children (51 children at risk of developmental langauge disorder, 51 typically developing peers). All children were aged between 24-36 months. Children's expressive and receptive language abilities, expressive vocabulary, and social-emotional development were evaluated. Parent and child's interactional behaviours, such as parental responsiveness and child's initiation, were assessed during free play.ResultChildren at risk of developmental language disorder demonstrated significantly higher problem behaviours and lower social-emotional competences compared to their typically developing peers. A significant relationship was found between expressive vocabulary and social-emotional competence in the at risk group. It was established that there were some significant correlations between language, social-emotional development, and parent-child interactional behaviours.ConclusionThis study offers evidence that children at risk of developmental language disorders are at increased risk of having additional emotional and/or behavioural problems. Certain parental interactional behaviours are linked to their children's language and social-emotional development, particularly for typically developing children.