The Development of Joint Attention and its Possible Role in Early Language Development

professional thesis

• Author: Barbara Vogrinčič
• Mentor: Maja Cepanec (mentor)
• Committee member: Sanja Šimleša (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maja Cepanec (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marta Ljubešić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-03-16, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Education/Rehabilitation Sciences

Abstract

Early language development is built on many preverbal skills such as joint
attention, vocalization, and characteristics of child`s play. Between these factors, joint
attention stands out, since it enables sharing the same reference point between two
subjects. The phenomenon of joint attention is still not fully understood despite many
studies and research that addressed the question of the development of joint attention
and causes of not fully established joint attention during the childhood. This led us to
focus on the development of joint attention in typically developing children and also
seek to address how joint attention is related to receptive and expressive language.
Due to the recently increased number of children with autism spectrum disorder and
preterm born children, concerns about specific development of joint attention and early
language development have also arisen, that is why we included them in our study.
The Early Social Communication Scales was used as a measure of joint attention
skills, Short-form version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories
was used as a measure of receptive and expressive vocabulary and the anamnestic
questionnaire was used for collecting information about the children’s early life. The
study included 30 typically developing children aged 9, 12 and 18 months, six children
with ASD and three preterm born infants.
Results in the typically developing group revealed changes due to maturing in the
quality and quantity of different forms of joint attention. Language comprehension and
language production show significant correlation with joint attention.
In the ASD group all of the children had severe impairments in joint attention, but
language performance varies according to the age of a child. They all showed atypical
joint attention and language performance.
Preterm children showed significant discrepancy between receptive and expressive
language as well slower development of joint attention skills and language
development.

• Keywords: joint attention; early language development; expressive language; receptive language; preterm born children; autism spectrum disorder; typically developing children
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:158:766954
• Study programme: Title: Postgraduate specialist study Early Intervention in Educational Rehabilitation; Study programme type: university; Study level: postgraduate specialist; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a specijalist/ specijalistica rane intervencije u edukacijskoj rehabilitaciji (sveučilišni/a specijalist/ specijalistica rane intervencije u edukacijskoj rehabilitaciji)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2020-09-03 08:37:28