Competing views on interventions for pragmatic language skills in persons with pragmatic language impairment: An umbrella review

Abstract

This umbrella review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pragmatic language interventions and existing competing views in improving pragmatic language skills in persons with pragmatic language impairment (PLI). A comprehensive search was conducted to identify qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews that included diagnostic criteria, features, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, differential diagnosis of PLI, and existing interventions, views, and arguments to improve the pragmatic language abilities/skills of persons with PLI. Syntheses were critically appraised by two independent reviewers using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. This umbrella review was registered with PROSPERO on 9th December 2022 under the registration number CRD42022378690. Out of 3,609 studies, 42 reviews were included in this umbrella review. The extracted findings were categorized based on theoretical intervention perspectives, which included behavioral, social-pragmatic, and cognitive-linguistic approaches. The studies revealed that pragmatic language interventions had a positive impact on improving pragmatic language skills in persons with PLI. However, competing views on pragmatic language interventions were also identified, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive approach that includes both behavioral and cognitive-linguistic components. In conclusion, cognitive-linguistic approach was the most documented intervention method, and suiting intervention methods to the complex nature of PLI is crucial. The documented intervention methods reflected competing views on the nature of PLI, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

Keywords:

• Pragmatic language impairment
• pragmatic language skills
• intervention
• umbrella review

Authors contributions

The first author prepared drafts for the title registration, the protocol, and the review. The second and seventh author supervised and mentored the review process. The third, fourth, and fifth authors contributed to study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal. The sixth authors contributed to editing and providing progress feedback. All the authors contributed toward the final version of the registered title, protocol, and review.

Ethical approval

This umbrella review does not require ethics approval.

Consent form

All authors have provided consent for publication.

Disclosure statement

This umbrella review was undertaken as part of a PhD in human science with a major in developmental psychology for AA.

Data availability statement

All data is attached in the Supplementary Appendix.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not have a direct fund by any institution or organization; however, thanks are due to the University of Verona, Verona, Italy, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR for providing funds toward the PhD for AA and the Open Access publication fund.