Partner im Dialog – Eine Einzelfallstudie zur laut- und gebärdensprachlichen Entwicklung eines Kindes mit CHARGE-Syndrom

BACKGROUND: The increasing possibilities of medical care effects rare syndromes as reasons for severe disabilities. One of these rare syndromes is CHARGE Syndrome with a prevalence of 1:12 000. In Germany there is no research referring this syndrome. In the following, selected results of a twelve months long single case study referring dialogical development between a father and his 2.5 years old son with CHARGE Syndrome are presented. The focus is especially on the development of spoken and sign language within the dialogue between the two partners. METHODS: Particular emphasis will be placed on prelingual and lingual elements of the dialogue between father and son with CHARGE Syndrome. The data is evaluated over a period of 1 year in the natural setting and gets computerised analysed. RESULTS: The analysis of the data shows, that the use of gestures, signs and spoken language by the child is linked to each other and that the child prioritises spoken language and gestures in contrast to sign language. Mainly the results demonstrate that the fathers attitude towards his son and here especially the dialogue as real partners, where the son is taken seriously and where the father pursues the child`s interests, is an indicator for a successful dialogue. CONCLUSION: The study contains first important hints referring development and meaning of prelingual and lingual elements in the dialogue between a father and his son with CHARGE Syndrome. Still, more research is needed in order to provide parents and their children with CHARGE Syndrome a pedagogical follow-up in the context of early education.