Williams syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by deletion of approximately 25 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. Children with the syndrome evidence large individual differences in both broad language and reading abilities. Nevertheless, as a group, children with this syndrome show a consistent pattern characterized by relative…

To produce spontaneous and generalized language use by severely disabled individuals, the language training context and content must be examined. Training methods can better approximate the conditions of natural language use when they involve: generation of spontaneous language responses to effect real-world changes, single performance "trials,"…

Six stages of a total communication intervention strategy to improve question comprehension skills in a profoundly hearing impaired subject (age 12) are described: (1) enhancing emergent skills; (2) manipulating wh-question forms; (3) increasing flexibility in wh-question responses; (4) developing questions in conversational context; (5) prompting…