Articles tagged with Language Disorders
A study by McGill University found that confidence in speech can overcome accent bias, making accented speakers equally believable to native speakers. The researchers discovered different brain regions are activated when evaluating speech from within and outside groups.
A study at the University of Missouri-Columbia has identified a link between neurotransmitter imbalance and brain connectivity in individuals with autism. The research found that those with low functional connectivity tended to have impaired listening comprehension and reduced balance of excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitter levels.
A massive study of nearly 700,000 English speakers reveals that the optimal years to learn a second language is open until the age of 17.4, challenging standard theoretical accounts of language learning. This finding has significant implications for neuroscience, linguistics, developmental psychology, and public policy.
A study found a link between defects in non-coding DNA and severe language impairment, as well as other neurodevelopmental disorders. Variants in the 3'UTRome region of the genome were associated with changes in protein expression, which may contribute to these conditions.
Researchers found that adults with autism process unrelated words similarly to those without the disorder, using distinct learning strategies. The study suggests that adults with autism use an alternative mechanism to process language, resulting in a different pattern in the brain.
A placebo-controlled trial found that high-dose folinic acid significantly improved verbal communication skills in children with autism. The treatment also showed promise for predicting response to treatment through specific biomarkers.
Researchers at University of the Pacific found strategies to improve young readers' comprehension of expository writing, such as RAP and graphical organization. These techniques can increase reading comprehension by up to 36 percentage points among struggling students.
A new study has identified numerous genetic mutations associated with both congenital heart disease and neurodevelopmental disorders. The analysis revealed a high burden of damaging de novo mutations in genes highly expressed during heart development, suggesting a link between heart and brain development.
A new study from UCLA has found that women experiencing extreme morning sickness during pregnancy are three times more likely to have children with attention disorders and language delays. In utero exposure to HG may be linked to nutrient deficiency and life-long effects on the exposed fetus.
Research reveals bilingual speakers' brains better filter out competing language words, enhancing inhibitory control. This constant brain exercise can have benefits in everyday life and may even offer protection against Alzheimer's and dementia.
Researchers have identified a crucial component of human language development in fruit flies, revealing the biological basis of operant learning. The study found that flies with a compromised FoxP gene failed to learn tasks, similar to human patients with FoxP mutations.
A new study from LSUHSC has identified two microRNAs regulating FOXP2, a gene linked to speech and language impairments and autism disorders. The study found that social context governs the function of these miRNAs in vocal learning, providing insights into human speech-language development.
A new LSUHSC study identified two microRNAs regulating FOXP2 levels in zebra finch brains, showing that social context influences their function. The findings provide insights into speech and language impairments and autism disorders.
A Mayo Clinic study reveals that individuals with speech and language disorders are 3.5 times more likely to be teachers, highlighting an occupational hazard for educators. The researchers also found no such correlation between other occupations and the development of these disorders.
A new study published in Pediatrics reveals that 70% of children with autism spectrum disorders achieve phrase or fluent speech by age eight, driven by nonverbal intelligence and social interest. The study also found that core abilities, such as nonverbal intelligence and social engagement, have a greater influence on communication dev...
Researchers explore autism spectrum disorder genetics and biomarker development in a special issue of Disease Markers. Early diagnosis through biomarkers could improve individual outcomes with early behavioral intervention.
Researchers found inconsistent best-estimate clinical diagnoses for autism spectrum disorders across 12 university-based sites, highlighting regional variations and implications for diagnostic frameworks. The study suggests moving towards dimensional descriptions of core features, rather than existing subgroupings.
A new study suggests that Mecp2 is essential for refining synaptic circuits based on sensory experience, leading to the formation of abnormal connections in autism spectrum disorders. This model of Rett syndrome may have implications for other autism-related disorders.
Researchers at the Salk Institute found that individuals with Williams syndrome process spoken language differently from those with autism spectrum disorders, which has opposite social profiles. People with Williams syndrome exhibit an abnormally large N400 response indicating sensitivity to semantic aspects of language.
A new study finds that pre-verbal vocalizations of children with autism are distinctly different from those of typically developing children. The LENA system automatically analyzed 1,486 recordings and achieved 86% accuracy in distinguishing between the two groups.
The LSU research team aims to identify clinical markers of children with Specific Language Impairment in non-traditional dialects, such as African American English and Southern White English. They hope to develop tools that can be used in Louisiana classrooms to assist speech language pathologists and educators.
The MOSAIC program is a four-year training initiative for graduate students to work with immigrant children learning English as a second language. The program addresses inadequate training of speech-language pathologists to diagnose communication disorders in multilingual children, targeting rural states with high numbers of ESL learners.
A new parent questionnaire, Language Use Inventory (LUI), has been developed to evaluate language skills in children with autism. The LUI assesses pragmatic language development, which is critical for effective communication in everyday interactions.
A Northwestern University study found that bilingual participants mastered nearly twice the number of words as monolinguals when learning an invented language. The research suggests that early exposure to two languages carries far-reaching benefits, making bilingual individuals better language learners in general.
A study by Ed Wasserman reveals that both baboons and pigeons can learn the relations between relations, a cognitive feat previously believed to be unique to humans. This discovery has implications for understanding animal intelligence and potentially informing methods for studying children with language impairments.
Researchers estimate RASD affects 25-30% of children with an autistic disorder. Children with RASD typically develop normally until 18-24 months, then regress and lose previously acquired skills. Identifying early signs is crucial to address potential neurological development issues.
Researchers used MEG to identify timing abnormalities in the brains of patients with autism, finding a fraction of a second delay in brain activity. This delay may underpin language processing and communication impairment in autistic children.
Researchers have identified the CNTNAP2 gene as a key player in childhood language disorders, with variants linked to specific language impairment (SLI) and delayed language development in children with autism. The study provides new insights into the molecular basis of language development and its relationship to autism.
Recent advances in autism research have highlighted the importance of genetics in the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Scientists have identified the first autism disease genes, which may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treatment interventions.
A study suggests that changes in diagnostic criteria for developmental language disorders may be contributing to the increase in autism diagnoses. The research found that around a quarter of children diagnosed with language impairments as children would now meet current criteria for autistic spectrum disorder.
Children with specific language impairment (SLI) have impaired grammar processing, but compensate by using neural circuitry associated with vocabulary and world knowledge. This finding offers new hope for sufferers of SLI and suggests a need for focussed and specialised help.
Researchers found that brain structure Heschl's Gyrus predicts successful second language learning. Adults with smaller left HG gray matter need not despair of learning another language, as training strategies can improve outcomes.
The Kennedy Krieger Institute is establishing a Learning Disabilities Research Center to examine the causes of reading disorders in children grades three through eight. The center aims to improve literacy by developing effective educational interventions.
Researchers analyze prosody and communication in autism, finding children with autism understand social-emotional information better with enhanced prosody. They aim to create a sharper understanding of core issues and differences between children with different forms of communication disorders.
Researchers found that autistic boys with normal language capabilities have a typical brain organization, while those with language problems exhibit similar brain changes as non-autistic boys with Specific Language Impairment. The study supports the idea that autism and SLI are disruptions in neurodevelopment and neurobiology.
A UCSD study uncovers how neurons in the brain sort information from electrical impulses, enabling coherent perception. Different neurons specialize in processing specific portions of the information, mimicking a musician reading their part in an orchestra.
Researchers identified specific areas of white matter enlargement linked to myelination delays in autistic and DLD patients. Enlargements were most pronounced in the prefrontal area and the outer layer of white matter was significantly larger than in normal controls.
A UCSF study found that women who have had a hysterectomy are at a higher risk of developing urinary incontinence by age 60, with a 60% increased risk compared to those who have not undergone the surgery. Incontinence often develops several years after the procedure and can significantly impact quality of life.
Researchers localized autism and developmental language disorder to the same position in the human genome, suggesting a genetic relationship between the disorders. The findings also explain why language difficulties are more prevalent in siblings and parents of individuals with autism.
Dr. Rachel I. Mayberry's research indicates that there is a critical period for sign language acquisition, guiding the learning of all first languages. This critical period emphasizes the importance of early childhood exposure and language acquisition in order to achieve optimal comprehension.
A cross-cultural study of over 200 children with specific language impairment found that their native language affects the number and types of problems they face. The study suggests that creative use errors and grammatical principles are key to understanding the disorder, which prevents millions of children from keeping up in the class...
Researchers found that seven-month-old infants can recognize and generalize simple language-like rules, understanding the algebra of combining words into sentences. This discovery has implications for diagnosis and treatment of language disorders in children.
Research at the University of Delaware reveals that children with Williams Syndrome may struggle to describe spatial relationships, using motion verbs less frequently and having difficulties encoding object properties and location. This cognitive deficit may be related to their impaired non-linguistic knowledge.
A new University of Delaware study explores the cognitive impacts of Williams Syndrome, revealing discrepancies in spatial and language skills. Children with Williams Syndrome exhibit extraordinary verbal skills but struggle with spatial tasks, such as replicating shapes or describing directions.
UCSF researchers have discovered a refinement in scientific understanding of specific language impairment, a disorder affecting 10% of children, characterized by difficulty distinguishing individual sounds. Children with the disorder require tones to be about 45 decibels more intense than normal to be heard over masking noise.