Role of age and gender in shaping inferential skills of school going adolescents

Inferential skills, developing from infancy through adolescence, are essential for language comprehension, problem solving, and academic success. They enable children to interpret implicit meanings and navigate social contexts. This study examined age- and gender-related differences in inferential skills among adolescents. Participants were 12-16-year-old students enrolled in English-medium schools since lower primary level. A curriculum-based auditory inferential assessment was administered to two age groups (12-13.11 years and 14-16 years). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS, with mean and standard deviation values calculated across domains. Mann-Whitney Z and independent samples t-tests assessed group differences. Results indicated that inferential ability increased with age, and males outperformed females. These findings highlight the significant influence of age and gender on adolescent inferential abilities. Speech-language pathologists can foster these skills, enhancing linguistic competence, metalinguistic awareness, and scholastic performance, particularly in children with autism, intellectual disability, and specific language disorders.