A Longitudinal Study of Language and Speech in Children Who Were Internationally Adopted at Different Ages

Abstract

Three years after adoption, age of adoption did not influence language or speech outcomes, and most children reached age-expected language levels. Expressive syntax as measured by MLU was an area of relative weakness.

Leaping the language gap: strategies for preschool and head start teachers

“…It is possible that benefits of the program on receptive language might be seen in younger children, as receptive language typically develops prior to expressive language. At 4 years of age, the children's receptive language may have a slower rate of increase, because the initial dramatic increases in receptive language in English have already been experienced as seen in other studies investigating acquisition of language (e.g., Glennen et al 2014). Thus, the time frame of the study may not have been long enough to document this growth over time.…”

Internationally Adopted Children in the Early School Years: Relative Strengths and Weaknesses in Language Abilities

“…Children who change languages during critical periods in learning may have difficulty learning to notice phonemic or grammatical patterns in the new language. Similarly, Glennen (2014) found that children adopted from Eastern Europe had low average mean length of utterance (MLU) scores when assessed 3 years after adoption. Bilingual adults who learned a second language (L2) at young ages and were perceived by monolingual speakers of L2 as having "native-like" conversational language consistently scored below monolingual adults when given extensive tests of language perception, comprehension, and production (Abrahamson & Hyltenstam, 2009;Hyltenstam et al, 2009).…”

“…Glennen (2014) previously determined that 3 years after adoption, age of adoption did not correlate with language outcomes. The reassessment was timed to take place 12-18 months after the age 5 assessment.…”

“…In addition, studies that do report strengths and weaknesses in specific language areas have frequently included children with limited exposure to their new language. Glennen (2014) determined that a minimum of 15 months of exposure was necessary for children adopted at ages 1 and 2 to reach age-level expectations in their new language. More typically, studies include children with a minimum of 2 years of language exposure, but some of the children in these studies were adopted at school age Hough & Kaczmarek, 2011;Jacobs et al, 2010;Roberts et al, 2005).…”

“…Previous publications reported on their speech and language development at adoption (Glennen, 2005), 1 year later (Glennen, 2007(Glennen, , 2009, and 3 years later (Glennen, 2014). There were 38 from Russia, four from Kazakhstan, one from Hungary, and one from Romania.…”