Two studies addressing the clinical validity of discrepancy criteria for identification of children with developmental language disorders (DLD) are reported: one with 256 preschoolers clinically defined as DLD, and one with 363 8-year-old controls. Factors contributing to underidentification in Study 1 and overidentification in Study 2 are…

The performance of language impaired children (four to eight years old) on auditory identification and sequencing tasks which employed different stimuli was studied in two experiments. Results indicated that some children performed significantly better when words rather than tones were used as stimuli.(Author/SEW)

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and an expressive language measure were administered to 114 children (aged 24 to 74 months) suspected of developmental difficulties. The DDST did not identify the majority of children who failed the expressive language screening, even after cutoff scores were made more rigorous. (Author/JDD)

Administration of verbal and nonverbal measures to 20 normal language and 20 specifically language-impaired children (ages 4-5) indicated that a "qualitative-differences" model of specific language impairment better accounts for the co-occurrence of poor verbal and poor nonverbal cognitive skills in subjects than a "low-normal"…

This paper analyzes Piagetian theory on the relative development of cognition and language, the local homology model which claims there are specific language-cognition relationships at specific points in time, normal development and local homology, and development in language-impaired children. Implications for clinical decision making are…

This study evaluated 9 computer-generated measures of children's language production, based on 24 children with specific language impairment and 24 normally developing children, ages 24-50 months. Three measures possessed desirable developmental and diagnostic characteristics: mean syntactic length, total number of words, and number of different…

This paper presents data on contextual assessment issues, particularly in the area of communicative intent, that affect clinicians working with young children. Variables often overlooked in assessment are discussed, including task characteristics, opportunities available to the child, event context, maintaining joint attention, and responsivity.…

The paper describes the referral, diagnostic, interventive, and evaluative procedures used in a self-contained behaviorally oriented noncategorical program for preschool children with speech and language impairments and other developmental delays. (CL)

The paper addresses the Comprehensive Services Program which takes an interdisciplinary approach to meeting the needs of preschool hearing impaired and language delayed children. The program is reported to be comprised of two major areas--assessment of the child's development and functioning level and educational intervention. Assessment is…

A bulletin consists of two articles on the language development of disadvantaged children. The opposing positions of language teachers on the "correct" approach to teaching standard English are outlined in one of the articles. On one side are those who favor creativity and freedom of expression while on the other side are the "purists" who are…

The Readiness Program for Disadvantaged Pre-School Children with Exceptional Learning Disabilities, a New York State Urban Education Quality Incentive Program, provides educational, clinical and socialization services to children who manifest developmental problems in the areas of language functioning, social and emotional adjustment, fine and…

Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) is a measure of spoken syntax that provides a numeric variable, provides some developmental data, and serves an organizing function for asking and answering clinical questions. DSS is useful in making diagnostic judgments, selecting goals and planning treatment, and measuring intervention efficacy. Difficulties…

A model for assessing the interactive sources of communication development in young children is proposed, focusing on the reciprocal behaviors of both adults and children. The model integrates theoretical and empirical findings and is designed for parallel diagnostic and treatment purposes in five areas: social play, turn taking, nonverbal…