An examination of specific communication deficits in adults with profound intellectual disabilities

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 525 - 529
• Main Authors: Belva, Brian C., Matson, Johnny L., Sipes, Megan, Bamburg, Jay W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adaptive behavior; Adaptive behaviour; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Communication deficits; Communication Disorders - diagnosis; Communication Disorders - psychology; Communication Problems; Communication Skills; Expressive Language; Female; Humans; Informants; Intellectual deficiency; Intellectual Disability - diagnosis; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Learning disabled people; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Profound ID; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Receptive Language; Residential Care; Severe Mental Retardation; Severity of Illness Index; Social Behavior; T Test; United States (Southeast); VABS; Verbal Behavior; Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales; Written Language; Profound ID; Communication deficits; VABS; Adaptive behavior; Human; Handicap; Communication disorder; Intellectual deficiency; Adult; Developmental disorder; Id; Mental retardation
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.10.019

► Purpose of the study was to investigate communication deficits in profound ID adults. ► Data was collected from 204 adults residing in two supports and services centers. ► Significantly more receptive communication skills were endorsed than expressive. ► Significantly more receptive communication skills were endorsed than written. ► Significantly more expressive communication skills were endorsed than written. Previous research has shown that adults with intellectual disability (ID) evince communication deficits. These communication problems can be divided into problems with receptive, expressive, and written domains. While much research has been devoted to investigating communication deficits in ID in general, scant research has been conducted on communication skills in specific levels of ID. This study examined 204 adults with profound ID residing in two large supports and services centers in the southeastern region of the United States. Data was collected on these individuals’ receptive, expressive, and written communication skills using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS). Three dependent t-tests were conducted comparing the proportion of items endorsed by informants on each of the three communication subdomains (receptive, expressive, and written) with one another. Participants displayed a significantly larger proportion of receptive subdomain items than expressive subdomain items, t(203)=20.00, p<0.01, and written subdomain items, t(203)=20.53, p<0.01. Additionally, it was found that the individuals exhibited a significantly larger proportion of expressive subdomain items than written subdomain items, t(203)=10.80, p<0.01. The implications of these findings are discussed.