Linguistic Phenotype in a Sample of Arabic Speaking Children with Williams and Fragile X Syndromes

The detailed linguistic assessment of children with Williams syndrome (WS) in comparison to typically developing (TD) children and other genetic syndromes such as fragile X syndrome (FXS) could reveal the language specific difficulties and help in better designing of intervention plans. Aim: To investigate the linguistic abilities with detailed syntactic performance in a sample of Egyptian children with WS in comparison to TD and FXS children from the same pool. The participants (n=30) included WS, TD children of similar sex and age of WS group and FXS group matching the WS group for mental age. The linguistic assessment was established using the Wechsler intelligence scale for children-III, Vineland social maturity scale and the standardized Arabic language test. The linguistic abilities of WS group were delayed even in relation to their mental age and when compared to TD children. WS group manifested deficits in past verb tense, manner adverbs and in spatially related syntax. The overall WS group language profile differed from that of FXS group especially regarding Pragmatics. The cognitive assessment revealed differences between the groups. The in depth detailed language assessment supports the presence of certain profile in the Arabic speaking WS participants. Individuals with WS do need language and social intervention plans as early as possible in addition to the original required visuospatial improvement strategies.