The number of children receiving cochlear implants (CIs) with significant disabilities in addition to their deafness has increased substantially. Unfortunately, children with additional disabilities receiving CIs have largely been excluded from studies on cochlear implant outcomes. Thus limited data exists on outcomes in this population to guide…

The author reviews the literature on code switching (use of two languages within a turn of speaking) as part of the conversational speech in normal and retarded individuals, presents data on language interaction in the speech of seven developmentally disabled persons, and discusses the implications of these comparisons for program planning with…

A diary study, in which observers recorded occurrences of vocal communications of a severely developmentally-delayed six-year-old, provided a scheme for categorizing and analyzing the vocalizations (into such areas as semantic, communicative, and phonological usage) and establishing a pattern of word development and possible interventions. (CB)

Twenty-one language disordered children ages three through seven diagnosed with autism, mental retardation, and/or developmental aphasia received a mean number of 74 signed speech training sessions. Seventeen children learned at least one word, and seven children learned multiple-word phrases. Most language learned was retained in a six-month…

This sequential analysis tested the relative extent to which several adult utterance types elicited conversational replies from eight developmentally delayed children (mean age 53 months). Among findings were that child replies of any length were elicited by adult topic continuations more than by any other adult utterance type. (Author/DB)

The last 25 years have witnessed an explosion of research at the intersection of typical language development and child language disorders. A pioneer in bringing these fields of study together is Robin S. Chapman, Emerita, University of Wisconsin. This contributed volume honors her with chapters written by former students and colleagues, who track…