Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) in etiologically diverse developmental conditions: A systematic review
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) are widely used parent-report tools for assessing early language development, including gesture use, expressive and receptive vocabulary, and early morpho-syntactic capacities. While originally developed for typically developing children aged 8 up to 36 months and aimed at detecting developmental language disorder, CDIs have been increasingly applied in studies of neurodevelopmental and genetic conditions, where language development often diverges from typical trajectories. In this review, we synthesize literature on the use of CDIs in a range of clinical populations, including autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, Angelman syndrome, DDX3X syndrome, 5p deletion syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and others. We highlight condition-specific patterns of expressive vocabulary development, discuss the value of longitudinal data collection using CDIs, and visualize age trends that capture change and variability across developmental pathways. Particular attention is given to methodological considerations such as cross-linguistic adaptations, reporting biases, and the limitations of single-timepoint assessments. While CDIs show promise for tracking language trajectories and informing early support, challenges remain in ensuring their reliability, validity, and suitability as screening tools. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of longitudinal, cross-condition, and cross-cultural approaches to better understand atypical language development and to improve the utility of CDIs in both research and applied settings.
Authors: Zuzanna Laudańska, Patrice van der Venne, Helena Preis, Steffi Sachse, Christian P. Schaaf, Jeremy I. Borjon, Hana D’Souza, Daniel Holzinger, Ewa Haman, Nivedita Mani, Luise Poustka, Dajie Zhang, Peter B. Marschik
Institutions: Heidelberg University, University Hospital Heidelberg, Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Heidelberg University of Education, University of Houston, Cardiff University, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, University of Warsaw, University of Göttingen, Medical University of Graz, Region Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,040
Funders: James S. McDonnell Foundation, UK Research and Innovation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Volkswagen Foundation, Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1865950272, G2102454963, G4369387650, The everyday learning opportunities of young children with attention and motor difficulties: From understanding constraints to reshaping intervention, SFB 1528: Kognition der Interaktion, Frühkindliche Entwicklung bei Kindern mit erhöhtem Risiko für Autismus Spektrum Störung, How infant-directed speech organizes the attentional state of infants
OpenAlex ID: W7129545362