Author(s)

Esther Moraleda Sepúlveda, Patricia López

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Talavera de la Reina, Spain.

Although there is some consensus when it comes to establishing the lexicon as one of the strengths of language in people with Williams Syndrome (WS), little is known about its evolution throughout development and changes based on age. The objective of this study was to find out if there are differences in receptive vocabulary between childhood and adolescence and into adulthood. In this research, 19 people with WS between 6 and 20 years old, divided into two age ranges (6 - 11; 12 - 20) and matched in mental age, were evaluated through the Peabody Vocabulary Test. The results show significant differences between both groups in favor of the group with the oldest chronological age and a direct correlation between chronological age and receptive vocabulary development, regardless of mental age. These data support the natural evolution of the passive lexicon in people with WS.

Vocabulary Development, Williams Syndrome, Language, Development

Sepúlveda, E. and López, P. (2020) Analysis of Receptive Vocabulary Development in Williams Syndrome. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 10, 804-812. doi: 10.4236/ojml.2020.106050.