ABSTRACT
The fragile X syndrome behavioral phenotype includes problems with language production, especially among affected males. These problems include both delayed and atypical language. Delayed language refers to the production of language that is characteristic of younger children, whereas atypical language refers to language that either is not produced by typically developing children of any age or contains excessive amounts of certain speech or language errors. Delayed language is attributable to general cognitive delay; it is not specific to fragile X and will not be discussed here. Instead, this chapter will focus on three specific forms of atypical verbal behavior that are commonly observed in this population. They are tangential language, perseverative language and repetitive speech. Although girls with fragile X tend to be less affected than boys, and most have relatively strong verbal skills, they too may exhibit these characteristics within their conversational language.
