Explores language disorders as challenges which affect aspects of children's lives. New chapters discuss language dsorders in toddlers/preschoolers and acquired language disorders in children with visual impairments, and language characteristics of Asian-American children.

An excellent overview of the characteristics of language disorders in children paired with information on assessments and interventions. The fourth edition of An Introduction to Children with Language Disorders provides readers with an in-depth and comprehensive overview that is unsurpassed in comparable texts. In three parts, this guide to child communication disorders presents the characteristics of common language disorders seen in children, discusses assessments for these disorders, and presents the most current information on language disorder intervention. In addition, this popular text covers topics often left out by similar books, such as special populations of children with language disorders, gifted children, children with other learning disabilities, children with cleft palates, bilingual children, and children with visual impairments.

"The focus of this book continues to be about children who do not acquire language normally. It is intended both for students who are learning about children's language disorders in order to help the children and for professionals wanting to update their knowledge in order to serve the children better. Language is the most powerful and important human ability. It affects educational achievement, relationships, and entire lives. Children with language disorders do not have easy access to this ability and are a severe disadvantage. They struggle with learning and with human interactions.; a language disorder alters a child's relationships with caregivers, undermines academic success, disturbs interpersonal relationships, limits vocational potential, and isolates the child from mainstream society."--Préface.

Speech and language are central to the human experience; they are the vital means by which people convey and receive knowledge, thoughts, feelings, and other internal experiences. Acquisition of communication skills begins early in childhood and is foundational to the ability to gain access to culturally transmitted knowledge, organize and share thoughts and feelings, and participate in social interactions and relationships. Thus, speech disorders and language disorders-disruptions in communication development-can have wide-ranging and adverse impacts on the ability to communicate and also to acquire new knowledge and fully participate in society. Severe disruptions in speech or language acquisition have both direct and indirect consequences for child and adolescent development, not only in communication, but also in associated abilities such as reading and academic achievement that depend on speech and language skills. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for children provides financial assistance to children from low-income, resource-limited families who are determined to have conditions that meet the disability standard required under law. Between 2000 and 2010, there was an unprecedented rise in the number of applications and the number of children found to meet the disability criteria. The factors that contribute to these changes are a primary focus of this report. Speech and Language Disorders in Children provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders and levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. This study identifies past and current trends in the prevalence and persistence of speech disorders and language disorders for the general U.S. population under age 18 and compares those trends to trends in the SSI childhood disability population.

Communication is one of life’s most fundamental joys, yet one often taken for granted until it is lost or fails to develop. Yet for millions of children each year, the skills that encompass communication stall or do not emerge at all. Even a mild disorder or temporary interruption in development can have long-term effects and result in serious and far-reaching deficits that touch every aspect of a child’s life. Each year, millions of children and their families join the ranks of those who are navigating a life they never expected, and frequently feel they are unable to take on. While it is critical to address the child’s deficits with supports and specific interventions, it is equally important to directly address the impact on the family, from the marital relationship to the well-being of siblings. With a warm and compassionate approach, Suzanne Ducharme provides parents with comprehensive information about speech and language development and the intervention process, but also delves deeply into the fears, concerns, and questions that every parent faces when something goes wrong. She provides families with information and resources, but also support and perspective. Using real stories throughout, Ducharme is able to illustrate the range of difficulties, challenges, and triumphs of families who love and support children with speech and language issues.

This book constitutes a clear, comprehensive, up-to-date introduction to the basic principles of psychological and educational assessment that underlie effective clinical decisions about childhood language disorders. Rebecca McCauley describes specific commonly used tools, as well as general approaches ranging from traditional standardized norm-referenced testing to more recent ones, such as dynamic and qualitative assessment. Highlighting special considerations in testing and expected patterns of performance, she reviews the challenges presented by children with a variety of problems--specific language impairment, hearing loss, mental retardation, and autism spectrum disorders. Three extended case examples illustrate her discussion of each of these target groups. Her overarching theme is the crucial role of well-formed questions as fundamental guides to decision making, independent of approach. Each chapter features lists of key concepts and terms, study questions, and recommended readings. Tables throughout offer succinct summaries and aids to memory. Students, their instructors, and speech-language pathologists continuing their professional education will all welcome this invaluable new resource. Distinctive features include: A comprehensive consideration of both psychometric and descriptive approaches to the characterization of children's language A detailed discussion of background issues important in the language assessment of the major groups of children with language impairment Timely information on assessment of change--a topic frequently not covered in other texts Extensive guidance on how to evaluate individual norm-referenced measures for adoption An extensive appendix listing about 50 measures used to assess language in children A test review guide that can be reproduced for use by readers.

This is a practical book written from a clinical viewpoint. It aims to show how speech therapists, working individually or in multidisciplinary teams, treat language-impaired children. It discusses the difficulties of the children and their needs, developing an holistic view of the child, her/his family environment and progress with the language. Throughout the book, the text includes descriptiond of 30 cases of children with language disorders, and they seek to illustrate the points made by drawing examples of actual clinical practice.