Three Profiles of Language Abilities in Toddlers With an Expressive Vocabulary Delay: Variations on a Theme.

J Speech Lang Hear Res 53(3):699-709 (2010) PMID 20530383

PURPOSE: The presence of an expressive vocabulary delay (EVD) in the context of otherwise harmonious development has been the main criterion used to define language delay in 2-year-olds. To better understand the communicative functioning of these children, other variables must be considered. In this study, the aim was to delineate and characterize clusters of 2-year-olds with EVD by measuring other language variables in these children. METHOD: Language and related variables were measured in 68 francophone children with EVD. RESULTS: In a cluster analysis, 2 language variables-(a) language expression and engagement in communication and (b) language comprehension-yielded 3 clusters ranging from weak language ability to high scores on both variables. Further differences were found between these clusters with regard to 2 correlates of lexical acquisition-namely, size of the expressive vocabulary and cognitive development. CONCLUSION: These results shed new light on the notion of heterogeneity in toddlers who present with an EVD by proposing subgroups among them. A follow-up investigation of these participants is ongoing.