TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– Research into the communication skills of individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is extremely limited. This paper aims to evaluate the nature of these skills and impairments in CdLS using a detailed informant assessment of pre-verbal communication skills. Design/methodology/approach– The study used the Pre-verbal Communication Schedule to evaluate communication skills in individuals with CdLS (n=14), aged five to14 years. The group was compared with a contrast group of individuals with Cri du Chat syndrome (CdCS; n=14) who were matched for age and intellectual ability. Findings– A significant difference was identified in understanding non-vocal communication (p<0.005), with the CdLS group showing a greater deficit. These findings indicate the presence of a syndrome-specific deficit in understanding non-verbal communication in individuals with CdLS and suggest that there may be a dissociation between the processing of verbal and non-verbal communication. Originality/value– The findings indicate that, in many ways, these two syndrome groups are not dissimilar in terms of their communication skills. However, individuals with CdLS show a syndrome-specific deficit in understanding non-vocal communication relative to the CdCS group.
VL  - 5
IS  - 4
SN  - 2044-1282
DO  - 10.1108/20441281111165562
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/20441281111165562
AU  - Hoddell Jill
AU  - Moss Jo
AU  - Woodcock Kate
AU  - Oliver Chris
ED  - Jeremy Turk
PY  - 2011
Y1  - 2011/01/01
TI  - Further refinement of the nature of the communication impairment in Cornelia de Lange syndrome
T2  - Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 15
EP  - 25
Y2  - 2024/04/18
ER  -