Comparison of lexical‐semantic processing in children with developmental language disorder and typically developing peers

Recent studies indicate that lexical and semantic deficits in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) are not caused only by reduced vocabulary and retrieval difficulties but also by sparse lexical-semantic network and deficits in semantic organization. This paper investigates qualitative differences in the lexical processing between children with DLD and typically developing peers, as well as developmental trends in the lexical-semantic processing in preschool and early school-age children with DLD. The sample consisted of 115 participants (5–8 yr.), 60 children with DLD and 55 typically developing (TD) children. The sample was also divided in two age groups, preschool (5 and 6 yr.) and school-aged groups (7 and 8 yr.). Word association task was used for the assessment of lexical-semantic processing. The responses were coded either as mature associations (paradigmatic and syntagmatic), immature associations (phonological, unrelated and echolalic) or omissions. The results show that DLD children have significantly less mature associations and more immature associations. Also, the performance of children with DLD was significantly poorer at early school age compared to their TD peers. Sparse lexical-semantic network and deficits of semantic organization in DLD children are caused by poor semantic fields and semantic categories, as well as difficulties in the activation of lexicon. However, developmental trends analysis showed that DLD children, although significantly delayed in lexical processing, have similar developmental pattern like TD children