Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the lexical and pragmatic factors that may contribute to turn-by-turn failures in communication (i.e., miscommunication) that arise regularly in interactive communication. Method: Using a corpus from a collaborative dyadic building task, we investigated what differentiated successful from…

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and social pragmatic communication disorder (SPCD) are two neurodevelopmental disorders with many similarities in affected individuals' impairments in social-communicative and pragmatic development. A central question pertaining to their differentiation concerns whether the distinction is truly…

Purpose: Our aim was to develop consensus on the definition and operationalization of communicative participation (CP) in 2- to 8-year-old children with language disorders (LDs). A clear definition and operationalization can facilitate the discussion about children's communication problems in daily life between parents and professionals. Method:…

Premature children or infants with neonatal pathologies have a higher risk of developing communicative problems. This pilot study aimed to explore communicative behaviour between the mothers and the infants during the hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and follow-up paediatric visit. The verbal interactions in the NICU were…

One-hundred nine children 3-16 years of age diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or Asperger's Syndrome were studied. Children resided in six states in the United States. Using moderation analysis via multiple regression, verbal communication and challenging behaviors and how they interact…

Background: Many individuals with Huntington's disease experience reduced functioning in cognition, language and communication. Talking Mats is a visually based low technological augmentative communication framework that supports communication in people with different cognitive and communicative disabilities. Aims: To evaluate Talking Mats as a…

An exciting multi-agency project to create a future for children with Down syndrome where they can more effectively express their opinions. This work recognises the need to remove barriers and push boundaries associated with the reduced ability to verbalise and was planned to give every child with Down syndrome in mainstream schooling in…

Each individual views the world from a frame of reference that is unique and personal. Messages are perceived in three steps: (1) data is selected data; (2) information is organized in some meaningful way; and (3) the information is interpreted. Three activities (paperfolding, T-puzzle, and cooperative geometry) were devised to display the need…

The achievement of excellence in communication is a function of both exposure to the best theory, research, and practice in communication, and the student's level of motivation to learn about communication. A major obstacle to managing conflict and interpersonal relationships successfully in general is the tendency people have to attribute…

A study examined conversational repair strategies of eight children (ages 4 to 7) with deafness and eight controls in response to communication breakdown. Children with deafness were more likely to revise utterances, while controls were as likely to repeat utterances as to revise and were more likely to provide cue repairs. (Author/CR)

A study examined the manner in which conversants and observers of conversants attribute intent to messages in ongoing information-seeking conversations. College students were used to evolve and test three scenarios, in which evasion was more or less likely, and a system of classifying intention in information seeking conversations. Fifty-four…

Although the sexual climate in the United States appears to have changed, there is substantial documentation which indicates that parents are reluctant to talk with their children about sexual matters. This review of the literature indicates that now, as 30 years ago, the primary source of sexual information among preadolescents is peers. Studies…

This document describes an experiential workshop which focuses on the application of key communication strategies to alleviate relationship problems between older parents and their adult children. Three communication devices are outlined which can make possible an exchange of ideas and opinions and promote an increased understanding between parent…

Arguing that physician/patient and librarian/user communications are similar, this article compares medical and reference interviews, focusing on physician or librarian attitudes and behaviors as it presents a series of verbal communication issues and outcomes. Offers suggestions to avoid communication problems at the reference desk, improving…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 20 titles discuss a variety of topics, including the following: (1) caregiver talk to toddlers in dyadic and polyadic care; (2) communication tactics for neutralizing verbal aggression; (3) physical attractiveness and nonverbal…