Pragmatic abilities of people with Williams syndrome
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study reviews existing research on the pragmatic abilities of individuals with Williams syndrome. While previous literature describes linguistic strengths and weaknesses within this population, limited synthesis exists concerning pragmatic competence and its developmental patterns. Addressing this gap, this review aims to analyze contemporary findings to clarify specific pragmatic characteristics and identify directions for future research. Peer reviewed full text articles published in English between recent years were selected using systematic search procedures, and methodological quality was independently evaluated. Six studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising eighty participants with Williams syndrome. Findings reveal distinct pragmatic profiles characterized by assertive conversational behaviour, perseveration on topics, excessive verbal output, and difficulty shifting conversational focus. Evidence also indicates strengths in interpreting neutral facial expressions and particular emotional cues. Developmental trends suggest potential spontaneous improvement in pragmatic abilities with increasing age. All included studies demonstrated acceptable methodological rigor. The review concludes that pragmatic challenges among individuals with Williams syndrome require targeted assessment and structured intervention to support social communication. Recommendations include expanding sample diversity, standardizing assessment tools, and examining intervention effectiveness to improve pragmatic functioning.
Keywords: Intervention; pragmatics; social communication; systematic review; Williams syndrome
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
International Journal of Special Education and Information Technologies (JESET)is an Open Access Journal. All articles can be downloaded free of charge. Articles published in the Journal are Open-Access articles distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
Birlesik Dunya Yenilik Arastirma ve Yayincilik Merkezi (BD-Center) is a gold open access publisher. At the point of publication, all articles from our portfolio of journals are immediately and permanently accessible online free of charge. BD-Center articles are published under the CC-BY license [Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)], which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and the source are credited.
Gold open access publishing services, which include end-to-end support – from research integrity and peer review, through to innovations in technology and artificial intelligence as well as global dissemination – are supported through Article Processing Charges (APCs). APCs enable the long-term stability of our program, and facilitate equal opportunity to seek, share and create knowledge that benefits all society without restriction. Quality is maintained through rigorous peer review and support through technological innovations, such as our Artificial Intelligence Review Assistant (AIRA).
Open access to the results of publicly funded research is of huge value, offering significant social and economic benefits. The open access publishing model, defined by the Berlin Agreement in 2003, improves the pace, efficiency, and value of research to society. By its very nature, it improves the visibility of authors' work and enables better scholarly exchange, and therefore, the potential impact of that work.
By eliminating the barriers that block the free distribution of knowledge, open access enables scientists to collaborate better, innovate faster, and deliver the solutions we need for healthy lives on a healthy planet.