Pragmatic abilities of persons with down syndrome
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Abstract
Pragmatic competence is fundamental to effective social communication, yet individuals with Down Syndrome often experience persistent language-related challenges that affect social participation and quality of life. Although numerous studies have examined structural language deficits, limited synthesis has focused specifically on recent evidence concerning pragmatic abilities and their cognitive correlates. This review addresses this gap by systematically examining empirical studies published in English over the past five years and indexed in PubMed and Web of Science. Across the selected studies, a total of 239 individuals with Down Syndrome were included, comprising 112 males and 127 females, with a mean age ranging from 9.7 to 28.2 years. The findings indicate consistent difficulties in grammatical and morphosyntactic development, as well as challenges in interpreting internal emotional states from vocal prosody, particularly when prosodic cues are minimal. Nonverbal intelligence and executive functioning emerged as significant predictors of pragmatic development. The review underscores the need for comprehensive intervention models that integrate language therapy with cognitive skill development to enhance pragmatic competence and promote more effective social communication outcomes in individuals with Down Syndrome.
Keywords: Cognitive development; Down Syndrome; executive functions; pragmatic competence; social communication
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