CONVERSATIONAL PATTERNS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABLED AND NONDISABLED SIBLINGS

This study examined the conversational patterns of older children with their younger siblings. The sample included 26 nondisabled, 10 hearin g impaired, 14 Down syndrome, and 13 developmentally delayed preschool children and their older, nondisabled siblings. Significant differenc es were found between the nondisabled and the disabled children. The s iblings of disabled children appeared to be less conversationally sens itive with their brothers and sisters than the siblings of nondisabled children. Significant differences were also observed between the diff erent types of disabilities. Few significant differences were found in variables believed to be facilitative of language development in the younger child, and those that were found tended not to be in the expec ted direction.