Story complexity and silent pauses in children with and without specific language impairment

Author(s)

Befi-Lopes, Debora Maria ; Bacchin, Leticia Bondezan ; Pedott, Paula Renata ; Caceres-Assenco, Ana Manhani

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CoDAS; v. 25, n. 4, p. 5-pg., 2013-01-01.

Abstract

Purpose: To verify the average time of silent pauses in narratives and the influence of story complexity over the occurrence of these pauses in narratives produced by children with typical language development and children with specific language impairment (SLI), and to compare these aspects between the groups. Methods: Sixty children aged between 7 and 10 years participated in this study. Forty presented typical language development and 20 had SLI. For the purposes of data collection, each child produced 15 narratives, each one based on a four-scene sequence. These narratives showed an increasing complexity in the relations between the characters, from the absence of intentionality (mechanical and behavioral sequences) to relations between characters with the attribution of mental states (intentional sequences), which allowed the survey of the average time of silent pauses in the narratives. Results: Story complexity influenced the average time of silent pauses in the narratives of children with typical language development. However, this pattern was not observed in the children with SLI. The comparison between the groups indicates a significant difference perceived in all types of narratives, with the highest average in the group with SLI. Conclusion: Due to their linguistic impairment, the children with SLI presented longer silent pauses in their narratives. Story complexity influenced the average time of silent pauses in the narratives of children with typical language development, but this difference did not occur in the narratives of children with SLI. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/14045-0 - Study of speech disruptions in children with specific language impairment
• Grantee: Débora Maria Befi-Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/07637-6 - Study of silent pauses in children with Specific Language Impairment: variable word classes.
• Grantee: Leticia Bondezan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 10/07613-0 - A study of silent pauses in children with normal language development: variable word classes.
• Grantee: Paula Renata Pedott
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation