Background: The ability to learn new words is critical in the development of oral and written language, and significantly impacts engagement in social, academic and vocational situations. Many studies have evaluated the word-learning process in people with developmental language disorder (DLD). However, methodologies for assessment are…

The article presents a critical review of procedures for analyzing coherence in written language samples. The psychological model of referential coherence, linguistic analysis of cohesion, and given/new contract are discussed in terms of research results, psychometric concerns, and writing research. Recommendations concerning their relative…

The definition of progress as applied to writing research and practice is examined, and three different approaches to understanding the writing of exceptional children are considered: a literal approach, an interpretive approach, and an evaluative approach. The scientific and social implications of each of the approaches are considered.…

This paper examines the evidence for two explanatory propositions for the striking similarity found between verbal descriptions of the written language of deaf students and descriptions of their personalities. The proposition that language difficulties invalidate the diagnostic process for deaf students is supported. (Author/DB)