Mental age and syntactic development in the intellectually handicapped

Abstract

Language samples from five mildly intellectually handicapped subjects with chronological ages ranging from 11 years 0 months to 11 years 8 months, and mental ages ranging from 6 years 2 months to 10 years 1 month were analysed syntactically. The results indicated problems in identifying the relationship between mental age and indices of linguistic sophistication. Most correlations were not significant, and the results suggested that these eleven year old mildly intellectually handicapped children may not show syntactic differences as great as those of mental age. At this age, differences exhibited in language may be due more to variables of individual experience, and especially the teaching strategies they experience. The results do not support the documented hypothesis that language development is closely related to mental age.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Berry

Paul Berry is Senior Lecturer in Special Education, Schonell Educational Research Centre, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4067. Australia. (address for offprints)

Brian Briese

Brian Briese is Lecturer in Education, Mount Gravatt College of Advanced Education, Mount Gravatt, 4122, Australia