This article examines the construct of working memory and its relationship to sentence comprehension difficulties of children with specific language impairment. Some sentence comprehension problems of these children may be related to inefficient management of working memory resources. Techniques for assessing working memory and enhancing the…

This article urges a shift in intervention approaches with students who have communication disorders to include sociocultural activities. Data reported support the integration of sociocultural learning and apprenticeship in the current paradigm of intervention practices. Discussion considers intervention practices as development in context,…

Discusses the "communication hypothesis" of problem behavior and describes methods for determining the communicative functions served by problem behavior. Reports on application of functional assessment and functional communication training with toddlers. (DB)

Issues in documenting the efficacy of consultation services in speech-language pathology are considered. These include documenting remediation and prevention outcomes, collateral changes in service delivery, changes in consultee self-efficacy attitudes, changes in consultee problem-solving skills, and changes in referral patterns. Differences…

This article discusses issues in the assessment of individuals who show difficulty in learning to read and write in different languages. A review of reading studies in several language contexts leads to a proposed framework for assessment procedures. Case studies from interventions in three language contexts (Sylheti/English, Herero/English,…

This article summarizes the literature on attention deficit disorders (both with and without hyperactivity), diagnostic criteria, the disorder's prevalence, developmental course, and proposed etiologies. A conceptual framework for designing a comprehensive assessment battery is presented with specific attention to the relationship between…

The article discusses autism in the birth to age two population in terms of early symptomatology and identification, early intervention as prevention, approaches to early assessment, and approaches to intervention. (DB)

This article discusses (1) assessment of discourse through listening and reading to evaluate comprehension problems; (2) developmental aspects of the relationship between listening and reading comprehension skills; (3) problems with selecting text passages and methods of testing comprehension; and (4) the development of a set of passages and a…

This paper considers issues affecting collaboration of professionals and family members in assessing children with special needs. Issues include process versus outcome, the balance of power between families and professionals, choices available to families, sequencing of services, formal versus informal assessment, family concerns and priorities,…

This paper argues that conventional educational and psychological assessment is not sufficient to identify dyslexia, and that psycholinguistic assessment by clinicians specializing in language is required. Psycholinguistic assessment involves use of testing, clinical observations, and language histories for evaluating complex interactions between…

The literature on how children begin understanding subjectivity and point of view in fictional stories is considered. Examination of the oral stories of a five-year-old child indicated the ability to depict the beliefs, intentions, feelings, and perceptions of the story characters. Implications for assessment and interventions to help children…

Discussion of communication intervention with very young children who have cochlear implants examines: (1) the developmental appropriateness of materials and procedures; (2) behavior and compliance issues; (3) the need for less didactic instruction and more incidental learning emphasis; and (4) recognition of the home as the primary venue for…

This epilogue discusses potentials in future clinical decision-making using the emerging functional neuroimaging technology, including identification of the mechanisms underlying cognitive functions and prediction of spared/impaired cognitive functions, those related to recovery of function and prediction of treatment candidacy; and those related…

Narratives of children from different Spanish-speaking backgrounds illustrate that children's atypical narrative performance may reflect individual or cultural differences. It is suggested that static assessments may not differentiate narrative differences from disorders. A dynamic assessment model to predict the child's true language learning…

Examines factors influencing research-practice gaps in the assessment and treatment of adults with neurologic communication disorders. Both researchers and clinicians are urged to learn alternative research strategies, build partnerships, and take advantage of new information technologies. Strategies are suggested for directly applying, adapting,…