The article outlines the parallel development of cognition and language and describes Piagetian-oriented assessment approaches. (CL)

The article examines clinical issues that must be considered in planning preschool language intervention aimed at integrating pragmatic theory into the treatment plan. The clinician's role in the process is examined, and solutions to problems in meeting individual needs within a group and being accountable are offered. (CL)

The article examines children's requests for clarification (RQCLs) in sections on the development of RQCL behaviors in normally developing children, the use of RQCL behaviors by language-impaired children, evaluation of language-impaired children's use of RQCL behaviors, and facilitation of language impaired children's use of and response to…

The article reviews the sequence of comprehension and production development in young normal hearing and hearing impaired children and describes comprehension strategies for both populations. Assessment procedures are considered. (CL)

The nature and development of discourse topic skills in preschool children are examined and illustrated by observations of very young children. Possible social and cognitive components are explored with implications for language-disordered populations. (CL)

The discussion of older language disordered children's syntactic development focuses on an increase in T-units (minimal terminal units) and an expansion of types of cohesion (ways in which children tie their utterance structures together). Implications for assessment and treatment are drawn. (CL)

The need to teach precursors to literacy as part of preschool language therapy with language-disordered children is stressed. Assessment and intervention approaches include developing the child's ability to use language in instructional contexts and facilitating language awareness (such as word and phonological consciousness). (DB)

The role of context in language learning is examined, and an approach for adapting contextual information to language remediation with the mentally retarded is described. The importance of obtaining information about the child's communicative environment and of incorporating the natural setting in the natural environment is stressed. (CL)

The article describes an approach to language intervention with mentally retarded preschoolers that begins with the child's communicative needs and skills. Classroom management issues, including the frequency, variety, and consistency of the child's communication are examined for their effects on communication. (CL)

Confusion is cited regarding the meaning and nature of central auditory dysfunction, and types of tests composing a central auditory test battery are described. Tests focus on auditory closure, auditory figure-ground, and dichotic listening. (CL)

The article looks at syntactic deficiencies involving simple clause structures and grammatical morphology in young children. A framework for understanding the development of simple clause structures is presented followed by a discussion of the correlates of early syntactic development. Procedures to assess and remediate syntactic deficiencies are…

The article reviews the development of action words in the language of young children, provides a rationale and basis for the choice of action forms to include in an early vocabulary, and suggests strategies for facilitating action-word development in language impaired and normal children. (DB)

The article stresses the importance of speech-language pathologists developing understanding of the American Indian child as a language learner and user within the linguistic and cultural context of family and community. Potentially biasing factors in test administration and interpretation are identified. Suggestions are offered for gaining…

A review of pragmatic structures that are a part of second language learning is intended to provide insights for speech-language pathologists working with bilingual students in the schools. Among topics covered are conversational postulates, presuppositions, and performatives. Suggestions for helping the bilingual language learner are offered. (CL)

Use of reading and writing to enhance oral communication skills requires analysis of the individual's performance; understanding of the interaction among auditory, oral, and written language disorders; integration of speech-language and educational services; and attention to skills of phonemic discrimination, auditory verbal comprehension, word…