language in children with severe motor deficits

[Yonata Levy]

Dear all,
We are about to embark on a study of language and cognitive development  in children with neurodegenerative syndromes with severe motor impairments who are non-ambulatory.
This project is motivated by the often-quoted, clinical impression that children with SMA(Spinal Muscular Atrophy) type II are unusually bright and linguistically precocious despite the fact that they cannot walk or use their hands very efficiently.
Preliminary studies lend support to these observations but more research is warranted.
The study will involve Hebrew speaking children and is in collaboration with colleagues in London. We will assess syntax, morphology and vocabulary.

We are looking for advice and suggestions as to what we ought to probe with respect to the children's cognitive development.What do you expect will be impaired in children who are motorically so dramatically impaired? What will impact on their language development? 
and of course, which tools shall we use? what ages do you suggest we test?

Appreciate your help!!
- a summary will follow

Yonata Levy


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Prof. Yonata Levy
Psychology  Department
The Hebrew University
Jerusalem, ISRAEL 91905

Tel: 972-2-5883408
fax: 972-2-6426749
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