Assessing Internal States in Children with Neuromuscular Disorders Through an Oral Narrative Task

Objective: Neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are rare, chronic diseases affecting muscle and nerve function, leading to motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional challenges. While physical and cognitive aspects have been widely studied, socio-emotional functioning remains underexplored. This study assessed the feasibility of using invented oral stories to examine internal state language in children with NMD compared to typically developing peers. Method: Forty 5-12 years old children (20 with NMD, 20 typically developing) spontaneously narrated fictional stories, analyzed for structure, cohesion, and psychological lexicon that refers to words expressing internal mental and emotional states. Results: Results showed no significant differences in narrative structure or cohesion, supporting the feasibility of oral storytelling. However, children with NMD used more physiological and socio-relational terms, emphasizing their attention to bodily experiences and social interactions as coping strategies. Conclusions: These findings highlight oral narratives as a valuable tool to access socio-emotional development in children with NMD through narrative-based interventions.