A language disorder is impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or other symbol systems. This disorder may involve 1) the form of language, 2) the content of language, and/or 3) the function of language in communication in any combination
Language Impairment- ASHA's definition
Heterogenous; but most, importantly, a language disorder is NOT just a difference
Language Impairment
______________________ approach is a communication first approach; the goal is better communication that works in the child’s natural communicative contexts
The functional language
In the past, language intervention has focused mostly on form and content, with little attention paid to ________. Typically highly structured and behavioral A major problem with this method is the lack of generalization that occurs as a result
use
Individual or small group setting using artificial situations
Traditional Model
Isolated linguistic constructs with little attention to the interrelationship of linguistic skills
Traditional Model
Individual or large group setting within contextually appropriate setting
Functional Model
Relationship of aspects of communication stressed through spontaneous conversational paradigm
Functional Model
Intervention stresses modeling, imitation, practice, and drill
Traditional Model
Little attention to the use of language as a social tool during intervention sessions
Traditional Model
Conversational techniques stress message transmission and communication
Functional Model
The use of language to communicate is optimized during intervention sessions
Functional Model
Little chance or opportunity to develop linguistic constructs not targeted for intervention
Traditional Model
Little chance to verbally interact with others during intervention
Traditional Model
Increased opportunity to develop a wide range of language structures and communication skills through spontaneous conversation and social interaction
Functional Model
Increased opportunity to develop communication skills by interacting with a wide variety of partners.
Functional Model
____________ consists of the intentions or communicative goals of each speaker and of the linguistic adjustments made by the speaker for the listener to accomplish these goals; Most features of language are affected by these aspects of the conversational context
Pragmatics
Insert picture
Formalist Model
Insert picture
Functionalist Model
Language is purposeful and takes place within a dynamic _________. This consists of a complex interaction of the following factors:
Context; Purpose, Content, Type of Discourse, Participant characteristics, Setting, Activity, Speech Community, Mode of discourse
The ongoing interactive process of clients and their newly acquired language feature with the communication environment
Generalization
Occurs when the child with LI induces a language rule from examples and from actual use; affected by the targets chosen for training, such as the use of negatives, and by the specific choice of training items, such as the words and sentences used to train negation
Content Generalization
Occurs when the client uses the new feature, such as the use of auxiliary verbs in questions, within everyday communication, such as in the classroom, at home, or in play
Context Generalization
Context generalization is influenced by what two interpersonal variables?
Situational factors and participant factors
A type of interpersonal variable that influences context generalizations: Method of training, personnel involved, training cues, reinforcement method, location and time of training, and objects present
Situational factors
A type of interpersonal variable that influences context generalizations: conversational roles of the participants
Participant factors
should be selected on the basis of each child’s actual communication needs and abilities, rather than a preconceived agenda; should be functional and useful in the client’s everyday environment
Training targets
items selected for intervention, such as the specific verbs to be used in training past tense –ed, and the linguistic complexity of these items can influence generalization; would be best coming from a natural environment; individualization is important; train linguistic forms across different functions
Training items
True or False: training should occur within a conversational context with varying numbers of facilitators, cues, consequences, and locations
True
“adults who increase the child’s potential for communication success”; parents, teachers, aides, and unit personnel in addition to the SLP; The more communicative partners that can be involved the better the chance for generalization
Language facilitators
The nature of reinforcement used in therapy is also a strong determiner of _________.
generalization
True or False: Natural consequences are the worst.
False
True or False: Verbal responses that combine statement about correctness/incorrectness while adding additional information can be a language-learning opportunity and a communicative turn while maintaining the conversational flow
True
True or False: The location of training involves only places.
False, it also involves events
True or False: Language intervention is best when trained within the daily activities of the client
True
Substantial limitations in present functioning; Significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive areas: communication, self-care, home; Significant limitations in intellectual functioning
