SEVERAL BASES FOR STRENGTHENING THE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN PRIMARY GRADES WERE CONSIDERED. FROM RECENT STUDIES THAT HAVE RECORDED AND ANALYZED ACTUAL SPEECH SAMPLES OF PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL CHILDREN, THREE ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE WERE MADE. FIRST, BY THE AGE OF THREE, MOST CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE…

A discussion of techniques developed to foster spontaneous verbal language in autistic children. Signed speech refers to the simultaneous production of signs and speech. After several months of this, the signs are faded out and the verbal language remaining is employed in a creative fashion. (AMH)

The current state of research into augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems is reviewed, and four dimensions of the study of communication handicap are described: structural, developmental, pragmatic (interaction), and technological. Recommendations regarding standardized research reporting procedures are offered in light of the…

The language development of children who have experienced malnutrition and varying degrees of speech and sensory deprivation is examined. In language learning, such children attend only when directly addressed, cannot control pitch and intonation and lack an understanding of the relational linguistic material and the sociolinguistic rules of…

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)

Sixty minimally verbal autistic children (mean age five years) were exposed to one of four language training conditions: speech alone, sign alone, or simultaneous or alternate presentation of speech and sign. Regardless of training condition, pretreatment verbal imitation ability positively predicted the size of child-initiated spoken vocabulary…

Three language teaching procedures for moderately and severely handicapped children that can be used in the everyday setting are discussed, along with the contribution of each procedure to an integrative model of natural environment language training. Empirical research on these methods is also reviewed. (SEW)

The question of whether the exclusive use of spoken English (i.e., oralism) causes brain atrophy for the hearing impaired child is examined in light of data presented by R. Conrad and other researchers. It is concluded that deafness itself is the fundamental cause of performance deficits. (SEW)

The receptive and expressive "wh" interrogative performance of 20 language-delayed children (4.3 to 6.4 years old) was compared to available normative data. These findings suggest that the delayed children develop the same order of acquisition and rules for questioning as normal children, but at a slower rate. (Author/SEW)

Two approaches for analyzing the measures reflected in children's early word combinations are described and illustrated. The first interpretive approach involves detailed analysis of spontaneous speech. The second approach uses individualized probes that are designed to isolate the semantic factors involved in children's word combination patterns.…

Children's pragmatic abilities were studied focusing on "requesting" in a group of 30 language impaired children (three to nine years old). There was a predominant usage of direct forms with only a slight increase of indirect ones in the older group. (Author/SEW)

Acquisition of novel words by kindergarten children (eight with normal language and eight with specific language impairment) was examined under various linguistic input conditions. Acquisition of novel words by both groups was significantly affected by alterations in speaking rate and the use of gestures accompanying spoken language. There were no…

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…

In order to facilitate simultaneous use of verbal and gestural communication, a five-year-old Down's syndrome child was taught with the Promoting Aphasics' Communicative Effectivenes (PACE) technique. PACE provided a structured format to stimulate natural face to face conversation while providing for the use of multimodality communication. (SEW)

The frequency and type of inappropriate word extensions (i.e., use of ball for moon) in the spontaneous speech of nine young language disordered children (2.8 to 3.4 years old) were studied. The percentage of inappropriate word extensions of these children was comparable to that of normal children at the same level of linguistic development.…