Some correlates of language deterioration in severely and profoundly retarded long-term institutionalized residents.

Progress or deterioration in language use was observed in two samples of retarded institutionalized residents. One sample was observed twice, and the other three times, at 5-year intervals. We coded change in language use as noncommunicating, regressed irregular, stable, or progressed. Change in language use was found to be related to two indicators of intellectual capacity. Central nervous system involvement may play a part in irregular or totally absent communication. Institutional policies regarding transfer of residents also affect the apparent language deficit in longer-term residents.