Narrative discourse production in Parkinson's disease: Decoupling the role of cognitive-linguistic and motor speech changes.

Introduction: the interplay between neuropsychological and communicative abilities in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been relatively overlooked, and it is not entirely understood which difficulties are consequent to impaired motor control, and which have a linguistic/cognitive basis. Here, we examined narrative discourse in PD using a multi-level analysis procedure considering sentence-level (productivity, lexical-grammatical processing) and discourse-level processes (narrative organization, informativeness), and partialling out patients' motor speech impairments. The interaction between cognitive (i.e. linguistic and executive) and communication abilities was also investigated. Methods: Twenty-nine PD subjects in the mild stage of the disease were compared to 29 matched healthy comparators (HC) on quantitative measures of narrative discourse derived from two picture description tasks. Multivariate (considering articulation rate and educational attainment as covariates) and univariate (with group membership as independent variable) analyses of variance were conducted on separate linguistic domains. The contribution of executive/linguistic abilities to PD's narrative performance was explored by multiple regression analyses on narrative measures significantly differentiating patients from HC. Results: significant reductions in patients were observed on measures of productivity (less well-formed words, shorter sentences) and informativeness (fewer conceptual units, less informative elements, lower number of details) and these alterations were explained by variations in linguistic abilities (action and object naming) rather than executive abilities. Articulation rate and educational attainment did not impact the observed reduced productivity and under-informativeness. Conclusion: referential narrative discourse is altered in PD, regardless of motor impairments in speech production. The observed reductions in productivity/informativeness aspects of narratives were related to naming abilities and in particular to verbs processing, consistently with the neurocognitive model of motor language coupling. Since narratives are amenable to recurrent and automated analysis for the identification of linguistic patterns potentially anticipating the development of PD and the onset of cognitive deterioration, discourse abilities should be quantitatively and repeatedly profiled in the disorder.

Visual perception and linguistic abilities, not quantitative knowledge, count in geometric knowledge of kindergarten children.

Geometric knowledge is one of the important mathematical skills acquired by children at a young age and is a major area of future mathematical learning; however, there is no direct research on the factors influencing kindergarteners' early geometric knowledge. The pathways model to mathematics was modified to examine the cognitive mechanisms underlying geometric knowledge in Chinese kindergarten children aged 5-7 (n = 99). Quantitative knowledge, visual-spatial processing, and linguistic abilities were stepped into hierarchical multiple regression models. The results revealed that after age, sex, and nonverbal intelligence were statistically controlled, visual perception, phonological awareness, and rapid automatized naming in linguistic abilities significantly predicted the variation in geometric knowledge. For quantitative knowledge, neither dot comparison nor number comparison test could be a significant precursor of geometry skills. The findings indicate that visual perception and linguistic abilities, not quantitative knowledge, account for the geometric knowledge of kindergarten children.

Simple view of reading in Spanish: A longitudinal study / Concepción simple de la lectura en español: un estudio longitudinal

Objectives: Test the validity of the Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986) in Spanish and analyze the contributions of decoding and linguistic abilities to reading comprehension. Method: This longitudinal study assessed a sample of 71 Spanish speaking children at Grade 1 and Grade 3. At each time point, a battery of tests assessed children's linguistic abilities, decoding and reading comprehension. The authors used the classic model of SVR: model 0 (pseudoword accuracy reading and listening comprehension) and a complex model: Model 1 (linguistic abilities and decoding). Results: Results of regression analyses showed that the original model of the SVR, explained little variance of reading comprehension in Spanish in comparison with the results obtained in English. However, a complex model explained 51% and 55% of the variance of reading comprehension in first and third grade respectively. The unique contribution of linguistic abilities increased from 27% in first grade to 43% in third grade and the contribution of decoding decreased from 24% in first grade to 2% in third grade. Conclusions: The results are explained in terms of the transparent nature of Spanish orthography and educational implications are discussed.(AU)

ObjetivosEvaluar la validez de la concepción simple de la lectura (Gough y Tunmer, 1986) en español y analizar la contribución de la decodificación y las habilidades lingüísticas a la comprensión lectora. Método: Se trata de un estudio longitudinal en el que se evaluó a 71 estudiantes hispanohablantes en 2 fases: en primer y en tercer curso de primaria. A todos ellos se les aplicó una serie de pruebas para evaluar las habilidades lingüísticas, la decodificación y la comprensión lectora en cada una de las fases. Los autores utilizaron el modelo original de la concepción simple de la lectura: modelo 0 (precisión en la lectura de seudopalabras y comprensión oral) y un modelo más abierto: modelo 1 (habilidades lingüísticas y decodificación). Resultados: Tras un análisis de regresión, se encontró que el modelo original de la concepción simple de la lectura explicó una varianza muy pequeña de la comprensión lectora en español en comparación los resultados obtenidos en inglés. Sin embargo, un modelo más abierto logró explicar el 51 y el 55% de la varianza de la comprensión lectora en el primer y el tercer curso de primaria, respectivamente. La contribución única de las habilidades lingüísticas se incrementó de un 27% en el primer curso a un 43% en el tercer curso y el aporte de la decodificación disminuyó de un 24% alcanzado en el primer curso a un 2% en el tercer curso. Conclusiones: Los resultados se explican en términos de la transparencia del sistema ortográfico del español. Los hallazgos tienen importantes implicaciones que son discutidas.(AU)

Motivation and Strategies for Reading Comprehension in Middle School / Motivación y Estrategias para la Comprensión Lectora en la Enseñanza Fundamental

Abstract In this study, we investigated the relationships among achievement goals, self-efficacy, reading strategies, and the self-assessment of performance in 47 Middle School students with control of the variable's history of repetition, school year, and age. The differences in the students' self-assessment regarding the practice of recreational reading were also analyzed. The students responded to three scales of the Multidimensional Battery of Reading Comprehension Self-Regulation. Statistically significant correlations were identified among the motivational constructs, reading strategies, self-assessment, and achievement goals. We identified differences in the indices between the bivariate and partial correlations. The achievement goals were predictors of self-efficacy and reading strategies. These three constructs predicted the students' self-assessment in Portuguese language and reading comprehension. Students who practiced recreational reading presented a higher self-assessment than students who did not have this habit. It is suggested to continue the investigations on the theme and incorporate the findings of this study into the pedagogical practices that encourage reading.

Resumen En este estudio, investigamos la relación entre los objetivos de logro, la autoeficacia, las estrategias de lectura y la autoevaluación del desempeño de 47 estudiantes de la enseñanza fundamental, con control de las variables historial de repetición, años escolares y edad. Se analizaron las diferencias en la autoevaluación de los estudiantes en la práctica de la lectura recreativa. Los estudiantes respondieron tres escalas de la Batería Multidimensional de Autorregulación para la Comprensión Lectora. Identificamos diferencias en las correlaciones bivariadas y parciales entre construcciones motivacionales, estrategias de lectura, autoevaluación y entre objetivos de logro. Los objetivos de logro fueron predicen autoeficacia y estrategias de lectura. Estos tres constructos predijeron la autoevaluación en portugués y comprensión de lectura. Los estudiantes que practicaban lectura recreativa tuvieron una autoevaluación más alta en comparación con los estudiantes que no tenían este hábito. Se sugiere continuar las investigaciones sobre el tema e incorporar los hallazgos de este estudio en las prácticas pedagógicas de la lectura.

Readiness or Impairment: Cognitive and Linguistic Differences Between Children Who Learn to Read and Those Who Exhibit Difficulties With Reading in Kindergarten Compared to Their Achievements at the End of First Grade.

Many studies have attempted to identify measures that predict reading abilities. The results of these studies may be inclined to over-identification of children considered at risk in kindergarten but who achieve parity in reading by the end of first grade. Therefore, the current study sought to analyze the specific cognitive and linguistic predictors of reading accuracy and reading speed separately. Additionally, the study examined if it is possible to use empirically validated measures to distinguish between children who are not ready to learn how to read in kindergarten but manage to acquire reading skills by the end of first grade, and those who continue to exhibit difficulties. The study followed 98 kindergarteners (43 boys and 55 girls) aged 4 years 10 months to six years from three different schools, who were taught how to read in kindergarten. Multiple measures of general cognitive skills, linguistic abilities, and reading abilities were measured at three different points in time: the beginning of kindergarten, the end of kindergarten, and the end of first grade. The study found that most of the children with good literacy and cognitive abilities learned how to read by the end of kindergarten. The analysis revealed a significant difference in cognitive abilities, such as executive functions and memory, which distinguished between the ability to acquire fluent reading and accurate reading. The study was able to successfully distinguish between "children with difficulties" and "un-ready" children. These results have various implications, especially in regard to the identification of and intervention with kindergarten children at risk for reading disabilities.

[The Comprehensive Aphasia Test in Hungarian]. / CAT-H ­ új eljárás az afázia magyar nyelvû diagnosztikájában.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In this paper we present the Comprehensive Aphasia Test-Hungarian (CAT-H; Zakariás and Lukács, in preparation), an assessment tool newly adapted to Hungarian, currently under standardisation. The test is suitable for the assessment of an acquired language disorder, post-stroke aphasia. The aims of this paper are to present 1) the main characteristics of the test, its areas of application, and the process of the Hungarian adaptation and standardisation, 2) the first results from a sample of Hungarian people with aphasia and healthy controls. METHODS: Ninety-nine people with aphasia, mostly with unilateral, left hemisphere stroke, and 19 neurologically intact control participants were administered the CAT-H. In addition, we developed a questionnaire assessing demographic and clinical information. The CAT-H consists of two parts, a Cognitive Screening Test and a Language Test. RESULTS: People with aphasia performed significantly worse than the control group in all language and almost all cognitive subtests of the CAT-H. Consistent with our expectations, the control group performed close to ceiling in all subtests, whereas people with aphasia exhibited great individual variability both in the language and the cognitive subtests. In addition, we found that age, time post-onset, and type of stroke were associated with cognitive and linguistic abilities measured by the CAT-H. CONCLUSION: Our results and our experiences clearly show that the CAT-H provides a comprehensive profile of a person's impaired and intact language abilities and can be used to monitor language recovery as well as to screen for basic cognitive deficits in aphasia. We hope that the CAT-H will be a unique resource for rehabilitation professionals and aphasia researchers in aphasia assessment and diagnostics in Hungary.

Maternal Thyroid Function During Pregnancy and the Child's Linguistic and Sensory Development in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986.

BACKGROUND: Maternal hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia are associated with poor neuropsychological development in children. Previous research is lacking on whether maternal thyroid dysfunction affects sensory and linguistic development in childhood. METHODS: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 included all births within a year (9,362 women, 9,479 children) from the two northernmost Finnish provinces. Maternal serum samples (n = 5,791) were obtained in early pregnancy and analyzed for TSH, free T4, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Abs). Five thousand three hundred and ninety-one parents evaluated their child's sensory and linguistic development at 7 years old via a questionnaire (excluding children with an intelligence quotient ≤85). The prevalence of sensory and linguistic impairments was compared between mothers with and without thyroid dysfunction. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of sensory or linguistic impairment between children of mothers with and without thyroid dysfunction. Children of hypothyroid and hypothyroxinemic mothers had an increased prevalence of vision impairment compared with those of euthyroid mothers (10.8 and 11.7%, respectively, versus 6.5%), but the difference was not significant. All results remained similar after excluding TPO-Ab-positive mothers and premature children. CONCLUSION: We did not find an association between maternal thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy and sensory and linguistic development impairment in childhood. A somewhat higher prevalence of vision impairment was seen in children of hypothyroid and hypothyroxinemic mothers, which merits further research.

Towards a theory of individual differences in statistical learning.

In recent years, statistical learning (SL) research has seen a growing interest in tracking individual performance in SL tasks, mainly as a predictor of linguistic abilities. We review studies from this line of research and outline three presuppositions underlying the experimental approach they employ: (i) that SL is a unified theoretical construct; (ii) that current SL tasks are interchangeable, and equally valid for assessing SL ability; and (iii) that performance in the standard forced-choice test in the task is a good proxy of SL ability. We argue that these three critical presuppositions are subject to a number of theoretical and empirical issues. First, SL shows patterns of modality- and informational-specificity, suggesting that SL cannot be treated as a unified construct. Second, different SL tasks may tap into separate sub-components of SL that are not necessarily interchangeable. Third, the commonly used forced-choice tests in most SL tasks are subject to inherent limitations and confounds. As a first step, we offer a methodological approach that explicitly spells out a potential set of different SL dimensions, allowing for better transparency in choosing a specific SL task as a predictor of a given linguistic outcome. We then offer possible methodological solutions for better tracking and measuring SL ability. Taken together, these discussions provide a novel theoretical and methodological approach for assessing individual differences in SL, with clear testable predictions.This article is part of the themed issue 'New frontiers for statistical learning in the cognitive sciences'.

Language and emotional abilities in children with Williams syndrome and children with autism spectrum disorder: similarities and differences.

Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic disease with a relatively homogeneous profile: relatively well-preserved language, impaired cognitive activities, and hypersociability. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of individuals with impairments in aspects of communication and a particular pattern of language acquisition. Although ASD and WS are polar opposites when it comes to communication abilities (language and emotion) and social behavior, comparisons between WS and ASD are still rare in the literature. ASD and WS are both associated with general language and developmental delays. Difficulties in social interaction and general pragmatic difficulties are reported in both ASD and WS, but are more pervasive in ASD. Regarding facial emotion recognition, the two syndromes differ markedly in sensitivity to human faces. Despite the heterogeneity of these two groups, only a few studies with children have paid sufficient attention to participant recruitment and study design. A number of aspects need to be taken into account (eg, small age range, homogeneity of the subgroups, matching with typically developing children) if scientific results are to inform the design of intervention programs for children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and WS.

Statistical learning as an individual ability: Theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence.

Although the power of statistical learning (SL) in explaining a wide range of linguistic functions is gaining increasing support, relatively little research has focused on this theoretical construct from the perspective of individual differences. However, to be able to reliably link individual differences in a given ability such as language learning to individual differences in SL, three critical theoretical questions should be posed: Is SL a componential or unified ability? Is it nested within other general cognitive abilities? Is it a stable capacity of an individual? Following an initial mapping sentence outlining the possible dimensions of SL, we employed a battery of SL tasks in the visual and auditory modalities, using verbal and non-verbal stimuli, with adjacent and non-adjacent contingencies. SL tasks were administered along with general cognitive tasks in a within-subject design at two time points to explore our theoretical questions. We found that SL, as measured by some tasks, is a stable and reliable capacity of an individual. Moreover, we found SL to be independent of general cognitive abilities such as intelligence or working memory. However, SL is not a unified capacity, so that individual sensitivity to conditional probabilities is not uniform across modalities and stimuli.

Evidências de validade do Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF) / Validity evidence for the Protocol for Phonological Awareness Task (PPAT) / Evidencias de validad de la hoja de ruta de evaluación de la conciencia fonológica (RACF)

O presente estudo investigou a validade do instrumento Roteiro de Avaliaçãoda Consciência Fonológica – RACF. Participaram da pesquisa 217 criançasde escolas públicas matriculadas no 2º, 3º e 4º ano do ensino fundamental. As crianças foram entrevistadas em quatro sessões nas quais procedeu a aplicação dos instrumentos: RACF, subteste de leitura do TDE e subtestes de vocabulário e de dígito do WISC III. Foram encontradas evidências devalidade de critério, pois os escores se diferenciaram pelos anos escolares e nível de habilidade em leitura. Outra evidência de validade foi detectada quando se verificou a associação dos escores do RACF com outras tarefas deavaliação cognitiva, a saber, o vocabulário e memória para dígitos. Enfim, os resultados mostram que o RACF é uma tarefa sensível para mensurar a habilidade metafonológica das crianças...

The present study investigated the validity of the instrument Protocol for Phonological Awareness assessment". Two-hundred and seventeen children drawn from public schools enrolled in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of elementary school participated in the research. The children were interviewed in four sessions in which the application of the following instruments was carried out in four sessions: RACF, TDE: reading subtest and the WISC III: vocabulary and digit subtest. Evidence of validityfor discrimination between series was found. The results indicated thatphonological awareness develops throughout the first years of schooling.Evidence of validity for RACF was also met when its association with othertasks such as vocabulary and working memory was found. In summary, our results show that the RACF is a task that helps you access the metaphonological ability of children...

Este estudio investigó La validez del instrumento Roteiro de Avaliação daConsciência Fonológica – RACF.Participaron de la investigación 217 niños del 2º a 4º grado de escuelas públicas de la enseñanza primaria. Los niños fueron entrevistados en cuatro sesiones en las cuales se aplicaron dosinstrumentos: RACF, subtest de lectura del TDE y subtestes de vocabulario y de dígitos del WISC III. Fueron encontradas evidencias de validez decriterio, una vez que las puntuaciones se diferenciaron por los grados escolares y el nivel de habilidad en lectura. Otra evidencia de validez fuedetectada cuandose verificó la asociación de las puntuaciones del RACF con otras tareas de evaluación cognitiva, a saber, el vocabulario y la memoria para dígitos. De esa forma, los resultados muestran que el RACF es unatarea sensible para medir la habilidad fonemica de los niños...

Evidências de validade e consistência interna de tarefas de analogia gramatical / Validity and internal consistency evidence for grammatical analogy task / Evidencias de validez y consistencia interna de tareas de analogía gramatical

O presente estudo investigou a validade de duas tarefas de analogia gramatical, focando nos morfemas derivacionais e flexionais. Participaram da pesquisa 217 crianças de escolas públicas matriculadas no segundo, terceiro e quarto ano do ensino fundamental. As crianças responderam a uma tarefa de consciência fonológica (RAFC) e duas de consciência morfológica. Foram encontradas evidências de validade de critério, pois os escores se diferenciaram pelos anos escolares para o escore composto e para a tarefa focando na morfologia derivacional. Outra evidência de validade foi detectada quando se verificou a associação dos escores do RACF com as tarefas de consciência morfológica. O escore composto da tarefa obteve índices de consistência interna adequados, mas com carência, Alfa de Cronbach de 0,66. Enfim, os resultados mostram que o escore composto da tarefa é sensível para mensurar a habilidade morfológica das crianças...

The present study investigated the validity of two tasks of grammatical analogy test focusing in derivational and flexional morphology. Two-hundred and seventeen children drawn from public schools enrolled in the second, third and fourth year of elementary school participated in the research. The children answer a task of phonological awareness (RACF) and two of morphological awareness. Evidence of validity for discrimination between series was found for the composite score of morphological awareness and for the derivational morphology task. Evidence of validity for the morphological awareness composite task was also met when its association with the RACF. The internal consistency task felt short of criterion and was adequate, Cronbach's Alpha of 0.66. The results show that the grammatical analogy task is a task that helps you access the morphological awareness of children...

Este estudio investigó la validez de dos tareas de analogía gramatical, centrándose en los morfemas derivativos y flexivos. 217 niños de escuelas públicas matriculadas en segundo, tercero y cuarto de primaria participaron del estudio. Los niños fueron sometidos a una tarea de conciencia fonológica (RACF) y dos más de conciencia morfológica. Se encontraron pruebas de validez de criterio, ya que las puntuaciones se diferenciaban según los cursos escolares para la puntuación compuesta y para la tarea en lo que a la morfología derivativa se refiere. Otra prueba de validez fue detectada al verificarse la asociación entre las puntuaciones RACF y las tareas de conciencia morfológica. La puntuación compuesta de la tarea obtuvo índices de consistencia interna adecuados, pero mostrando carencias. Cronbach Alfa de 0,66. En resumen, los resultados muestran que la puntuación compuesta de la tarea es sensible para medir la habilidad morfológica en los niños...

Evidências de validade do Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF) / Validity evidence for the Protocol for Phonological Awareness Task (PPAT) / Evidencias de validad de la hoja de ruta de evaluación de la conciencia fonológica (RACF)

O presente estudo investigou a validade do instrumento Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica – RACF. Participaram da pesquisa 217 crianças de escolas públicas matriculadas no 2º, 3º e 4º ano do ensino fundamental. As crianças foram entrevistadas em quatro sessões nas quais procedeu a aplicação dos instrumentos: RACF, subteste de leitura do TDE e subtestes de vocabulário e de dígito do WISC III. Foram encontradas evidências de validade de critério, pois os escores se diferenciaram pelos anos escolares e nível de habilidade em leitura. Outra evidência de validade foi detectada quando se verificou a associação dos escores do RACF com outras tarefas de avaliação cognitiva, a saber, o vocabulário e memória para dígitos. Enfim, os resultados mostram que o RACF é uma tarefa sensível para mensurar a habilidade metafonológica das crianças. (AU)

The present study investigated the validity of the instrument Protocol for Phonological Awareness assessment". Two-hundred and seventeen children drawn from public schools enrolled in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of elementary school participated in the research. The children were interviewed in four sessions in which the application of the following instruments was carried out in four sessions: RACF, TDE: reading subtest and the WISC III: vocabulary and digit subtest. Evidence of validity for discrimination between series was found. The results indicated that phonological awareness develops throughout the first years of schooling. Evidence of validity for RACF was also met when its association with other tasks such as vocabulary and working memory was found. In summary, our results show that the RACF is a task that helps you access the metaphonological ability of children. (AU)

Este estudio investigó La validez del instrumento Roteiro de Avaliação daConsciência Fonológica – RACF.Participaron de la investigación 217 niños del 2º a 4º grado de escuelas públicas de la enseñanza primaria. Los niños fueron entrevistados en cuatro sesiones en las cuales se aplicaron dosinstrumentos: RACF, subtest de lectura del TDE y subtestes de vocabulario y de dígitos del WISC III. Fueron encontradas evidencias de validez decriterio, una vez que las puntuaciones se diferenciaron por los grados escolares y el nivel de habilidad en lectura. Otra evidencia de validez fuedetectada cuandose verificó la asociación de las puntuaciones del RACF con otras tareas de evaluación cognitiva, a saber, el vocabulario y la memoria para dígitos. De esa forma, los resultados muestran que el RACF es unatarea sensible para medir la habilidad fonemica de los niños. (AU)

Evidências de validade e consistência interna de tarefas de analogia gramatical / Validity and internal consistency evidence for grammatical analogy task / Evidencias de validez y consistencia interna de tareas de analogía gramatical

O presente estudo investigou a validade de duas tarefas de analogia gramatical, focando nos morfemas derivacionais e flexionais. Participaram da pesquisa 217 crianças de escolas públicas matriculadas no segundo, terceiro e quarto ano do ensino fundamental. As crianças responderam a uma tarefa de consciência fonológica (RAFC) e duas de consciência morfológica. Foram encontradas evidências de validade de critério, pois os escores se diferenciaram pelos anos escolares para o escore composto e para a tarefa focando na morfologia derivacional. Outra evidência de validade foi detectada quando se verificou a associação dos escores do RACF com as tarefas de consciência morfológica. O escore composto da tarefa obteve índices de consistência interna adequados, mas com carência, Alfa de Cronbach de 0,66. Enfim, os resultados mostram que o escore composto da tarefa é sensível para mensurar a habilidade morfológica das crianças.(AU)

The present study investigated the validity of two tasks of grammatical analogy test focusing in derivational and flexional morphology. Two-hundred and seventeen children drawn from public schools enrolled in the second, third and fourth year of elementary school participated in the research. The children answer a task of phonological awareness (RACF) and two of morphological awareness. Evidence of validity for discrimination between series was found for the composite score of morphological awareness and for the derivational morphology task. Evidence of validity for the morphological awareness composite task was also met when its association with the RACF. The internal consistency task felt short of criterion and was adequate, Cronbach's Alpha of 0.66. The results show that the grammatical analogy task is a task that helps you access the morphological awareness of children.(AU)

Este estudio investigó la validez de dos tareas de analogía gramatical, centrándose en los morfemas derivativos y flexivos. 217 niños de escuelas públicas matriculadas en segundo, tercero y cuarto de primaria participaron del estudio. Los niños fueron sometidos a una tarea de conciencia fonológica (RACF) y dos más de conciencia morfológica. Se encontraron pruebas de validez de criterio, ya que las puntuaciones se diferenciaban según los cursos escolares para la puntuación compuesta y para la tarea en lo que a la morfología derivativa se refiere. Otra prueba de validez fue detectada al verificarse la asociación entre las puntuaciones RACF y las tareas de conciencia morfológica. La puntuación compuesta de la tarea obtuvo índices de consistencia interna adecuados, pero mostrando carencias. Cronbach Alfa de 0,66. En resumen, los resultados muestran que la puntuación compuesta de la tarea es sensible para medir la habilidad morfológica en los niños.(AU)

Severity of specific language impairment predicts delayed development in number skills.

The extent to which mathematical development is dependent upon language is controversial. This longitudinal study investigates the role of language ability in children's development of number skills. Participants were 229 children with specific language impairment (SLI) who were assessed initially at age 7 and again 1 year later. All participants completed measures of psycholinguistic development (expressive and receptive), performance IQ, and the Basic Number Skills subtest of the British Ability Scales. Number skills data for this sample were compared with normative population data. Consistent with predictions that language impairment would impact on numerical development, average standard scores were more than 1 SD below the population mean at both ages. Although the children showed improvements in raw scores at the second wave of the study, the discrepancy between their scores and the population data nonetheless increased over time. Regression analyses showed that, after controlling for the effect of PIQ, language skills explained an additional 19 and 17% of the variance in number skills for ages 7 and 8, respectively. Furthermore, logistic regression analyses revealed that less improvement in the child's language ability over the course of the year was associated with a greater odds of a drop in performance in basic number skills from 7 to 8 years. The results are discussed in relation to the interaction of linguistic and cognitive factors in numerical development and the implications for mathematical education.

The Interplay between Musical and Linguistic Aptitudes: A Review.

According to prevailing views, brain organization is modulated by practice, e.g., during musical or linguistic training. Most recent results, using both neuropsychological tests and brain measures, revealed an intriguing connection between musical aptitude and second language linguistic abilities. A significant relationship between higher musical aptitude, better second language pronunciation skills, accurate chord discrimination ability, and more prominent sound-change-evoked brain activation in response to musical stimuli was found. Moreover, regular music practice may also have a modulatory effect on the brain's linguistic organization and alter hemispheric functioning in those who have regularly practised music for years. These findings, together with their implications, will be introduced and elaborated in our review.

Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF) / Hoja de Ruta de Evaluación de la Conciencia Fonológica (RACF) / Roadmap Assessment of Phonological Awareness (RACF)

O presente estudo buscou avaliar a consciência fonológica de alunos do ensino fundamental, para investigar evidências de validade de critério pela comparação entre as séries e também identificar diferenças relativas às variáveis sexo e idade. Participaram 221 crianças de 6 a 12 anos (M=8,53; DP=1,40) que individualmente responderam ao Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF), instrumento tipo screening. Dos 15 pontos possíveis, as crianças obtiveram média de 11,23 (DP=2,60). Destaca-se como principal resultado o estabelecimento de evidência de validade de critério, visto que por meio da ANOVA foi identificada a existência de diferenças significativas entre as séries [F(3,218)=18,66; p<0,001], identificando-se escores mais altos congruentes com o avanço na etapa escolar. As pontuações médias de meninos e meninas não diferiram significativamente e, quanto à idade, as crianças mais velhas alcançaram médias mais elevadas. Sugere-se que outros estudos sejam realizados com amostras maiores e diversificadas, de forma a possibilitar também a comparação com outras variáveis potencialmente relevantes.

Este estudio buscó evaluar la conciencia fonológica de alumnos de enseñanza primaria, para investigar evidencias de validez de criterio por medio de la comparación entre los grados, así como también identificar diferencias relativas a las variables sexo y edad. Participaron 221 niños entre 6 y 12 años (P=8,53; DT=1,40) que respondieron individualmente al Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF), instrumento del tipo screening. De los posibles 15 puntos, los niños obtuvieron un promedio de 11,23 (DT=2,60), encontrando una mayor dificultad en la identificación del sonido intermedio de las palabras. El ANOVA indicó diferencias significativas entre los grados [F(3,218)=18,66; p<0,001], con puntuaciones más altas en los alumnos de los grados más adelantados, lo que se constituye en una evidencia de validez de criterio para el instrumento. Los promedios de puntuaciones de los varones y las niñas no fueron significativamente diferentes, y en relación a la edad, los niños mayores tuvieron promedios más altos. Se sugiere realizar otros estudios con muestras mayores y diversificadas, como una forma de permitir también la comparación con otras variables potencialmente relevantes.

This paper aimed at assessing phonological awareness in elementary school children, in order to examine criterion validity evidences through comparing grades, and also to identify differences related to gender and age. Participants were 221 children aged 6 to 12 years (M=8.53; SD=1.40), who individually responded to Roteiro de Avaliação da Consciência Fonológica (RACF), a screening instrument. Out of 15 possible scores, children scored an average of 11.23 (SD=2.60), finding greater difficulty in identifying intermediate sounds of words. The ANOVA indicated significant differences between grades [F(3,218)=18,66; p<0,001], with higher scoring for students in more advanced levels, which constitutes evidence of criterion validity for the instrument. The average scores of boys and girls were not significantly different, and in relation to age, older children had higher averages. It is suggested that further studies are conducted with larger and varied samples, as a way to also allow comparison with other potentially relevant variables.