Spelling Performance in Children with Developmental Language Disorder: A Meta-Analysis across European Languages

ABSTRACT

Spelling difficulties often occur in children with developmental language disorder (DLD), the extent and drivers of these difficulties are underspecified. Meta-analyses were conducted to address this gap. We identified child-based factors (age, language spoken, profile of difficulties) and task-based factors (text production or dictation) as potential moderators of the impact of DLD on spelling performance. Thirty-two studies were analyzed, including 984 children with DLD. Large differences between the spelling of children with DLD and their age-matched peers were found. The average mean effect size was −1.42, 95% confidence interval [−1.60, −1.24]. Heterogeneity was large. Effect size estimates were larger when participants had additional phonological or reading difficulties than when they did not. No differences were found between participants with DLD and their language-matched peers. The results are discussed with respect to the underlying processes that impact on spelling across languages. Specific recommendations for future studies are made.

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Notes

1. Given the anglocentricity of the sample, English was always defined as the constant/intercept (g = −1.41, p < .0001), [−1.61, −1.20]. β values ranged from −0.99 for Italian, [−1.81, −0.18], z = −2.38, p = .02, to 0.53 for Russian, [−0.41, 1.49], z = 1.12, p = .26, with β values of −0.15 for Spanish, [−1.16, 0.85], z = −.30, p = .76; 0.004 for French, [−0.78, 0.79], z = 0.01, p = .99; and 0.21 for Dutch, [−0.39, 0.81], z = 0.69, p = .49.

2. With English as the intercept (g = −1.55, p < .0001), [−1.80, −1.30], β values ranged from −.85 in Italian, [−1.74, 0.04], z = −1.88, p = .06, to .68 in Russian, [−0.37, 1.74], z = 1.27, p = .20, with .01 for French, [−0.84, 0.88], z = .04, p = .97, and .35 for Dutch, [−0.32, 1.02], z = 1.06, p = .30.

3. With English as the intercept (g = −1.07, z = −8.94, p < .0001), [−1.31, −.84], β values were −.48 in Spanish, [−1.16, 0.18], z = −1.42, p = .16, and −.19 in French, [−0.77, 0.38], z = −.66, p = −1.42.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST action IS1401 STSM).