The development of semantic knowledge in children with symptomatic H.I.V. infection

Children with symptomatic HIV infection exhibit language deficits which may be due to abnormalities in the semantic knowledge structure. The semantic network of 203 children with symptomatic HIV infection was investigated through an error analysis of responses on a picture-naming task. Errors made on the test were categorized using an error classification system (Adequate Description, Superordinate, Subordinate, Semantically Related, Perceptual, "I Don't Know"/No Response, and Unclassifiable). On average, children made 14 errors (SD = 6.54; range: 5-43). Children made significantly more Semantically Related (31%), Subordinate (22%), and Adequate Description (21%) errors when compared to Superordinate (16%) and Perceptual (8%) errors. Although there were no significant differences in the error patterns of children with and without brain abnormalities or between children with and without CNS compromise, there were significant developmental differences. The results suggest that children with symptomatic HIV infection may have an impoverished semantic network.