Investigating the Relationships among Motor Ability, Cognitive Ability and Communication of Persons with Profound Mental Retardation

Abstract

To our knowledge, no published study has investigated the interrelationships among motor ability, cognitive ability and communicative functions in profoundly retarded persons. This paper presents two studies: the purpose of the first study was to examine the interrelationships among the variables mentioned using a descriptive correlational design. The purpose of the second study was to validate the results of the first study. The results revealed a complex pattern of relationships among the variables studied. The construct validity of the communicative concepts used and the external validity of the findings in the first study were supported in the second study. The results suggest that motor ability interacts with the frequency of use of the discourse roles initiating and maintaining. It also suggests that cognitive ability interacts strongly with the ability to sequential interaction involving objects.