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A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Lexical Priming and Reaction Time in Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder

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Title: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Lexical Priming and Reaction Time in Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder
Language: English
Authors: C. Donnan Gravelle (ORCID 0000-0003-2419-894X), Nicolas Zapparrata (ORCID 0000-0002-0319-0431), Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova (ORCID 0000-0003-2747-2019), Patricia J. Brooks (ORCID 0000-0001-8030-8811)
Source: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 2026 69(2):737-755.
Availability: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Priming, Reaction Time, Language Impairments, Developmental Disabilities, Children, Differences, Language Processing
DOI: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00227
ISSN: 1092-4388
1558-9102
Abstract: Purpose: Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) exhibit linguistic difficulties that may stem from deficits in predictive processing. Several studies report impaired lexical priming in DLD groups compared to age-matched groups with typical language development (TLD). However, other studies report compensatory enhancement of lexical-semantic processing, leading to larger priming effects in DLD. Method: We used Bayesian meta-analysis to examine lexical priming and overall reaction time (RT) differences in age-matched groups of children with DLD and TLD (k = 19, m = 56, N = 360 DLD, N = 369 TLD; M[subscript age] [DLD] = 9.1 years). Moderators were priming type (semantic, form based) and response type (button press, verbal). Results are reported with outliers removed. Results: Both DLD and TLD groups exhibited lexical priming effects (faster RTs for primed targets; Hedges's g = 0.22 and 0.33, respectively), with similar between-study heterogeneity. There were trivial differences in the effects for semantic versus form-based (repetition/phonological) priming and for tasks requiring button press versus verbal responses. While group differences in priming effects were negligible (slightly larger priming effects in TLD groups, g = 0.11), group differences in overall RTs were of medium magnitude (shorter RTs in TLD groups, g = 0.56). Conclusions: Children with DLD exhibit slower processing than age-matched peers with TLD but do not show impaired lexical priming. Discrepancies with prior findings may result from small samples and longer RTs contributing to nonsignificant priming effects in DLD groups. By de-emphasizing significance testing, Bayesian meta-analysis offers a more robust framework than frequentist meta-analysis for clinical research with small samples.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/jwsug
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497158
Database: ERIC
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  Data: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Lexical Priming and Reaction Time in Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22C%2E+Donnan+Gravelle%22">C. Donnan Gravelle</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2419-894X">0000-0003-2419-894X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nicolas+Zapparrata%22">Nicolas Zapparrata</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0319-0431">0000-0002-0319-0431</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gavkhar+Abdurokhmonova%22">Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2747-2019">0000-0003-2747-2019</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patricia+J%2E+Brooks%22">Patricia J. Brooks</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8030-8811">0000-0001-8030-8811</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Speech%2C+Language%2C+and+Hearing+Research%22"><i>Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research</i></searchLink>. 2026 69(2):737-755.
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  Data: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
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  Data: 19
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Priming%22">Priming</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reaction+Time%22">Reaction Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Impairments%22">Language Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Disabilities%22">Developmental Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Differences%22">Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Processing%22">Language Processing</searchLink>
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  Data: 1092-4388<br />1558-9102
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Purpose: Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) exhibit linguistic difficulties that may stem from deficits in predictive processing. Several studies report impaired lexical priming in DLD groups compared to age-matched groups with typical language development (TLD). However, other studies report compensatory enhancement of lexical-semantic processing, leading to larger priming effects in DLD. Method: We used Bayesian meta-analysis to examine lexical priming and overall reaction time (RT) differences in age-matched groups of children with DLD and TLD (k = 19, m = 56, N = 360 DLD, N = 369 TLD; M[subscript age] [DLD] = 9.1 years). Moderators were priming type (semantic, form based) and response type (button press, verbal). Results are reported with outliers removed. Results: Both DLD and TLD groups exhibited lexical priming effects (faster RTs for primed targets; Hedges's g = 0.22 and 0.33, respectively), with similar between-study heterogeneity. There were trivial differences in the effects for semantic versus form-based (repetition/phonological) priming and for tasks requiring button press versus verbal responses. While group differences in priming effects were negligible (slightly larger priming effects in TLD groups, g = 0.11), group differences in overall RTs were of medium magnitude (shorter RTs in TLD groups, g = 0.56). Conclusions: Children with DLD exhibit slower processing than age-matched peers with TLD but do not show impaired lexical priming. Discrepancies with prior findings may result from small samples and longer RTs contributing to nonsignificant priming effects in DLD groups. By de-emphasizing significance testing, Bayesian meta-analysis offers a more robust framework than frequentist meta-analysis for clinical research with small samples.
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      – SubjectFull: Reaction Time
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      – SubjectFull: Language Processing
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      – TitleFull: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis of Lexical Priming and Reaction Time in Children with and without Developmental Language Disorder
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