The effect of early language and communication environment on social outcomes for primary school aged children with language difficulties
Children who have difficulties in linguistic development that persist into middle childhood are at higher risk of later social problems, in comparison to their typically developing peers. In this talk I will present findings from a study based on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The study aimed to explore the extent to which a child’s early communicative environment may influence later social adjustment, and, whether the pathways for such influences were different for children with and children without language difficulties. I report an analysis using a subset of ALSPAC participants who completed direct assessments of linguistic/psycholinguistic abilities in middle childhood and will discuss these findings with reference to support and education strategies for children at risk of language difficulties.
