The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is associated with impaired cognitive functions and increased risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Speech and language deficits are prominent, with evidence of decline anteceding emergence of psychosis. There is paucity of data examining language function in children with 22q11DS with follow‐up assessment of psychosis spectrum (PS) symptoms. We examined the association between early language measures, obtained clinically, and PS status, obtained on average 10.1 years later, in 166 youths with 22q11DS, with repeated language testing in 48. Participants were administered the Preschool Language Scale (receptive/expressive), and/or, for school aged children, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (receptive/expressive), and age appropriate IQ tests. The structured interview for prodromal syndromes (SIPS) assessed PS symptoms. We found that performance on all preschool measures showed age associated decline, and males performed more poorly on core composite (receptive/expressive) and receptive language measures. For language assessment later in childhood, poorer performance was consistently associated with subsequent PS status. Furthermore, steeper age‐related decline was seen in the PS group across language measures and marginally for full‐scale IQ. These findings suggest that while preschool language testing is useful in characterizing performance decline in individuals with 22q11DS, it does not robustly differentiate those with subsequent PS from those without. However, language testing in the school age population can help identify individuals with 22q11DS who are at risk for psychosis. Such data are needed for elucidating a lifespan trajectory for affected individuals and may help understand pathways to psychosis applicable to the general population.

中文翻译：

---

与22q11.2缺失综合征中后期精神病特征相关的早期语言测量。

22q11.2缺失综合征（22q11DS）与认知功能受损和精神分裂症谱系障碍的风险增加有关。言语和语言缺陷是突出的，有证据表明先于精神病患者出现了语言能力下降。缺乏对22q11DS患儿语言功能以及精神病谱（PS）症状的随访评估的数据。我们研究了166名22q11DS年轻人的临床早期语言测量和平均10.1年后获得的PS状态之间的关联，并在48名儿童中进行了反复的语言测试。 /或针对学龄儿童，进行语言基础的临床评估（接受/表达）以及适合年龄的智商测试。前驱综合症（SIPS）的结构化访谈评估了PS症状。我们发现，所有学龄前测验的成绩都显示出与年龄相关的下降，而男性在核心综合（接受/表达）和接受语言测验上的表现则较差。在儿童后期进行语言评估时，较差的表现一直与随后的PS状态有关。此外，在PS组中，通过语言测评发现与年龄相关的下降幅度更大，而对于全智商则略有下降。这些发现表明，尽管学龄前语言测试有助于表征22q11DS患者的表现下降，但并不能有效地区分具有后续PS的个体和没有PS的个体。但是，在学龄人口中进行语言测试可以帮助识别患有精神病风险的22q11DS患者。