Genetic, environmental, and gender effects on individual differences in toddler expressive language

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2004 Aug;47(4):904-12. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2004/067).

Abstract

In this article, the authors examined the genetic and environmental factors influencing expressive language development in a sample of 386 toddler twin pairs participating in the Wisconsin Twin Project. Expressive language was assessed using 2 measures from the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories-Short Form: Total Vocabulary and Two-Word Combination Use (L. Fenson et al., 2000). A sex-limitation structural equation model estimated the contribution of genetics, shared environment, and nonshared environment to individual variation. For vocabulary, heritability was higher for boys than for girls (20% vs. 8%). For word combination use, heritability was higher for girls (28% vs. 10%). However, the majority of individual variation in both boys and girls could be attributed to shared environment (54%-78%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Environment*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Language Development Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Language Development Disorders / epidemiology
  • Language Development Disorders / genetics*
  • Male
  • Sex Factors
  • Speech Production Measurement / methods
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics*
  • Verbal Behavior*