Evaluation of a narrative language intervention for adolescents with down syndrome.

Abstract

Purpose: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of an animated computer-based narrative language intervention on the microstructure and macrostructure narrative language abilities of verbally expressive adolescents with Down syndrome. Method: This study used an interparticipant, multiple-baseline, single-subject design. Three females with Down syndrome aged 13, 14, and 16 years each with a mean length of utterance (MLU) greater than 2.5 morphemes participated in this study. Study sessions included 4-5 baseline sessions, 12 intervention sessions, and 1 follow-up session. Microstructure narrative elements (Total Number of Utterances, MLU, and number of Bound Morphemes) were analyzed using visual inspection of data points. Treated macrostructure narrative elements (Character, Setting, Initiating Event, and Consequence) as well as one control measure, Initiating Event, were scored using the Index of Narrative Complexity (Petersen, Gillam, & Gillam, 2008) and analyzed using visual inspection of data points, percentage of maximum data points, and Chi-square analysis. Results: Treatment gains were found on both microstructure and macrostructure narrative measures. However, there was heterogeneity in outcomes across participants, dependent measures, and elicitation contexts.