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Does Executive Function Performance Predict Treatment Response in Preschoolers With Developmental Language Disorder?

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Title: Does Executive Function Performance Predict Treatment Response in Preschoolers With Developmental Language Disorder?
Authors: Kapa, Leah L.1 leahkapa@arizona.edu
Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Jul2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p2040-2052. 13p.
Subject Terms: *Predictive tests, *Data analysis, *Developmental disabilities, *Attention, *Memory, *Language acquisition, *Speech therapy, *Evaluation, *Children, Treatment of language disorders, Research funding, Executive function, Treatment effectiveness, Descriptive statistics, Distraction, Statistics, Data analysis software, Sensitivity & specificity (Statistics), Regression analysis
Abstract: Purpose: The goal of the current study was to examine whether executive function scores predicted response to conversational recast treatment among preschoolers with developmental language disorder (DLD). Method: Forty-nine preschoolers with DLD who received Enhanced Conversational Recast treatment were included in the analyses. Their response to treatment was indexed by the effect size of their accurate production of a targeted morpheme following treatment relative to their production of the morpheme prior to treatment. Stepwise regression analyses determined whether treatment response was predicted by their standardized language scores and/or by their scores on four executive function tasks that measured selective sustained attention, working memory, inhibition, and attention shifting. Results: Among the potential predictors included in the model, only Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS), which is a measure of attention shifting, was a significant predictor. DCCS scores were positively predictive of treatment outcomes and accounted for 20% of variance in treatment effect among participants. Conclusions: In addition to considering a child's language abilities when selecting language treatments, clinicians may also take into account their executive function abilities, as children with DLD who had higher DCCS scores tended to have larger positive treatment responses to Enhanced Conversational Recasting. These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of the skills needed for children to succeed in language treatments and provide guidance for selecting treatments that are most appropriate for individual children given their profile of strengths and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Does Executive Function Performance Predict Treatment Response in Preschoolers With Developmental Language Disorder?
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kapa%2C+Leah+L%2E%22">Kapa, Leah L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> leahkapa@arizona.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Speech-Language+Pathology%22">American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology</searchLink>. Jul2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p2040-2052. 13p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictive+tests%22">Predictive tests</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+disabilities%22">Developmental disabilities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention%22">Attention</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Memory%22">Memory</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+acquisition%22">Language acquisition</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+therapy%22">Speech therapy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluation%22">Evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+of+language+disorders%22">Treatment of language disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Executive+function%22">Executive function</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+effectiveness%22">Treatment effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Distraction%22">Distraction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistics%22">Statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensitivity+%26+specificity+%28Statistics%29%22">Sensitivity & specificity (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regression+analysis%22">Regression analysis</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The goal of the current study was to examine whether executive function scores predicted response to conversational recast treatment among preschoolers with developmental language disorder (DLD). Method: Forty-nine preschoolers with DLD who received Enhanced Conversational Recast treatment were included in the analyses. Their response to treatment was indexed by the effect size of their accurate production of a targeted morpheme following treatment relative to their production of the morpheme prior to treatment. Stepwise regression analyses determined whether treatment response was predicted by their standardized language scores and/or by their scores on four executive function tasks that measured selective sustained attention, working memory, inhibition, and attention shifting. Results: Among the potential predictors included in the model, only Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS), which is a measure of attention shifting, was a significant predictor. DCCS scores were positively predictive of treatment outcomes and accounted for 20% of variance in treatment effect among participants. Conclusions: In addition to considering a child's language abilities when selecting language treatments, clinicians may also take into account their executive function abilities, as children with DLD who had higher DCCS scores tended to have larger positive treatment responses to Enhanced Conversational Recasting. These findings highlight the multifaceted nature of the skills needed for children to succeed in language treatments and provide guidance for selecting treatments that are most appropriate for individual children given their profile of strengths and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00396
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 2040
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      – SubjectFull: Predictive tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developmental disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Memory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language acquisition
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      – SubjectFull: Speech therapy
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      – SubjectFull: Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Treatment of language disorders
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: Executive function
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Treatment effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Distraction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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      – SubjectFull: Sensitivity & specificity (Statistics)
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      – SubjectFull: Regression analysis
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      – TitleFull: Does Executive Function Performance Predict Treatment Response in Preschoolers With Developmental Language Disorder?
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              M: 07
              Text: Jul2025
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              Y: 2025
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