83. Mary is a 6-year-old child who has a speech-language impairment. She exhibits difficulty understanding what is said to her. Which of the following types of skills is her deficiency most likely associated with?
Answer: B
Mary's deficiency is most likely associated with receptive skills.
Receptive skills refer to the ability to understand and process language. Given that Mary has difficulty understanding what is said to her, it is clear that her impairment is linked to her receptive skills.
A) Pragmatic skills
Pragmatic skills involve the social aspects of language use, such as knowing how to take turns in conversation and understanding context. While important, these skills do not directly relate to Mary's primary issue of understanding spoken language.
B) Receptive skills
Receptive skills encompass the ability to comprehend language, including following directions and grasping the meaning of words and sentences. This directly aligns with Mary's difficulty in understanding what is communicated to her, making it the most relevant type of skill in this context.
C) Semantic skills
Semantic skills pertain to the understanding of meaning in language, including vocabulary knowledge. While they play a role in comprehension, Mary's specific challenge is related more broadly to her overall ability to understand spoken language, rather than just the meanings of specific words.
D) Expressive skills
Expressive skills involve the ability to convey thoughts and ideas through speech. Since Mary's issue lies in understanding rather than expressing language, this option does not accurately reflect her deficiency.
Conclusion
Mary's difficulty in understanding spoken language clearly indicates a deficiency in receptive skills, which directly impacts her ability to process and comprehend verbal communication. Other options, such as pragmatic, semantic, and expressive skills, do not adequately address the specific nature of her impairment. Thus, receptive skills are the most relevant and correct choice.