1999 Volume 40 Issue 4 Pages 393-401
This study investigated the development of communication competence in children with moderate-severe mental retardation. The subjects were first encountered by the author prior to 4 years of age and seen regularly beyond 8 years of age, without intensive speech therapy. A comparison of communication competence was made at 4 and 8 years old. There were 24 children in the severe group and 25 in the moderate group. The result was that 24 children in the moderate group acquired verbal communication, with 15 able to have a functional conversation. On the other hand, only 16 children in the severe group acquired verbal communication. The children with speaking ability became able to control their panic impulsions. The severely retarded but verbal children showed improvements in speaking or vocal imitation during later school ages. These result show the importance of following such cases and offering long-term support to both children and mothers. Although retarded children have typically shown very small improvements and it is difficult to recognize developmental changes through standardized tests, we have been able to see gradual development.Therefore, when studying the effects of intensive speech therapy using programmed speech therapy techniques, we should consider the subject's intrinsic ability to communicate.
