ダウン症児における言語と遊びの関係

抄録

The purpose of this study is to verify 'local homology model' in the relationship between play and language of Down syndrome children. Eighteen American Down syndrome children (mean CA 34.2 months, range 16-54 months) were observed in 25 minutes' play with mother, uslng toys including "junk" materials and picture books. Degree of symbolization in playing was found to be related differently to expressive or receptive language measures when controlling for CA. In the measures of sequental conplexity of 12 subjects who engaged in sequential play, strong association was found between maximum number of symbols contained in sequential play and the longest utterance of content words. These results suggested partly that local homology model obtained in the relationship between play and language in Down syndrome children. Though specific correspondences of play levels and stages of language which McCune-Nicolich (1981) hypothesized were found for only two of five levels : level 2 and level 5. Language was generally delayed in comparison to play level in Down syndrome children.