Conversational success in Williams syndrome: communication in the face of cognitive and linguistic limitations

Tarling, K., Perkins, M. R. and Stojanovik, V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6791-9968 (2006) Conversational success in Williams syndrome: communication in the face of cognitive and linguistic limitations. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 20 (7-8). pp. 583-590. ISSN 0269-9206 doi: 10.1080/02699200500266547

Abstract/Summary

Williams syndrome (WS) is characterized by apparent relative strengths in language, facial processing and social cognition but by profound impairment in spatial cognition, planning and problem solving. Following recent research which suggests that individuals with WS may be less linguistically able than was once thought, in this paper we begin to investigate why and how they may give the impression of linguistic proficiency despite poor standardized test results. This case study of Brendan, a 12-year-old boy with WS, who presents with a considerable lack of linguistic ability, suggests that impressions of linguistic competence may to some extent be the result of conversational strategies which enable him to compensate for various cognitive and linguistic deficits with a considerable degree of success. These conversational strengths are not predicted by his standardized language test results, and provide compelling support for the use of approaches such as Conversation Analysis in the assessment of individuals with communication impairments.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/13846
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
Uncontrolled Keywords	Williams syndrome, conversation analysis, compensatory strategy, repair, INNATE MODULARITY, LANGUAGE, DISSOCIATIONS, BREAKDOWN, PROFILE
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