The availability of using the mean length of utterances to measure the language development of mentally retarded children
Pan Chunhon · Journal of Modern Rehabilitation · 2001
Objective To study the development law of the mean length of utterances(MLU)on mentally retarded children.Method A series of self－selected pictures was used to measure MLU of mentally retarded children while they spoke with the aid of the pictures.Result Mentally retarded(MR)children's mental age(MA)is remarkably related to their MLU,and MR children' language abilities(with 5.0～5.5 MA)has been greatly increased.Their development in MLU is not as remarkable as that of normal children with the same MA.Conclusion Generally,we can use MLU as a criterion to measure the language development of MR children.