nicole kotras masters thesis

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classified as normal. Subsequent researchers also included the neurological questionnaire
in their measures used for the selection of normal children (Allan, 1988, 1992; Bhamjee,
1991). It may be stated that the development of a child's CNS thus appears to be a practical
and popular indicator of normality (See Appendix D).
Shipley and McAfee (1992) report a number of medical conditions associated with
communicative disorders. These include, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS);
Adenoidectomy; Allergies; Asthma; Chicken Pox; Colds; Convulsions (Seizures); Croup;
Draining ear; Encephalitis; German Measles; High fever; Influenza; Measles; Meningitis;
Mumps; Otitis Media; Pneumonia; Sinusitis; Tinnitus and Tonsillitis. Due to the influence of
such conditions on an individuals communicative performance, children whose parents' or
teachers reported them suffering from any of the above mentioned conditions at the time of
testing were excluded from the study.
Gender
Previous research has indicated that gender does not appear to be a major confounding
variable for the age group investigated in this study (Allan, 1992; Bhamjee, 1991; Hindley,
1960). Despite this statement, an attempt was made to include an equal number of boys
and girls in each group.
Participants
The present study consisted of two sample groups, as is presented in Table 6. The
children's age in both samples ranged between 60 and 83 months. Table 6 highlights the
close equivalence between the two samples with regards to the cultural, socio-economic,
language, gender and mean age range.
Sample 1 was utilized for the 20 small revised pictures and the large South African revised picture,
while sample 2 was utilized for the 20 small revised pictures and the large revised United Kingdom/European/
Australian picture.