The etiology of language delay and speech deficits in Down Syndrome

زبانشناسی و گویش های خراسان

Article 7, Volume 2, Issue 3, October 2010   

Document Type: علمی - پژ‍وهشی

DOI: 10.22067/lj.v2i3.15917

Authors

Nader Jahangiri^* ; Zahra Roohi

Abstract

Down Syndrome (SD), the most common genetic cause of mental retardation, results in characteristic physical and neuropsychological deficits and abnormalities especially within the scope of cognitive and linguistic abilities.This study has been carried out to introduce and investigate some of the most important and efficient causes involved in speech delay and linguistic deficits in DS. These causes are :
1- Structural and functional deficits in speech articulatory organs.
2- Hearing impairments.
3- Short – term memory impairments.
4- The specific laterality pattern in language perception and articulation.
5- Structural and functional brain abnormalities.
It is necessary to note that most researchers believe that brain abnormalities especially in cognitive- linguistic regions is the most prominent in the before – mentioned causes. It worth noting these brain abnormalities have great varieties.

Keywords

Neurolinguistics. Down Syndrome. language delay and Speech deficits