Uncommon genetic syndromes and narrative production - Case Studies with Williams, Smith-Magenis and Prader- Willi Syndromes

This study compares narrative production among three syndromes with
genetic microdeletions: Williams syndrome (WS), Smith-Magenis syndrome
(SMS), and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), characterized by intellectual
disabilities and relatively spared language abilities. Our objective is to study
the quality of narrative production in the context of a common intellectual
disability. To elicit a narrative production, the task Frog! Where Are You was
used. Then, structure, process, and content of the narrative process were
analysed in the three genetic disorders:WS (n52), SMS (n52), and PWS (n52).
Data show evidence of an overall low narrative quality in these syndromes,
despite a high variability within different measures of narrative production.
Results support the hypothesis that narrative is a highly complex cognitive
process and that, in a context of intellectual disability, there is no evidence of
particular ‘hypernarrativity’ in these syndromes.
This research was supported by the grants FEDER – 1