Language impairments are often associated with problems in educational attainments and in acquiring literacy, but speech therapy services to school-aged children are not universally available. If teachers are able to reliably identify those children whose language skills place them at risk, then the specialist services offered by speech and…

This article discusses diagnostic considerations in identifying coexisting communication disorders and in differentiating between stuttering and secondary fluency disorders related to language formulation. Options for structuring therapy for coexisting problems are evaluated, including blended, lagged, and cycled approaches. Concerns implicit in…

The lexical variables of word frequency and neighborhood density were hypothesized to facilitate sound change to varying degrees. Twelve children with functional phonological delays participated in an alternating-treatments experiment to promote sound change. Results indicated word frequency was most facilitative in sound change, whereas dense…

This epilogue to a series of articles addressing changes in speech-language pathology practices, discusses the influence of evidence-based approaches to clinical services. A bibliography of readings addressing English and Spanish phonology, spelling, recent regulations and guidelines, and evidence-based research and practices is appended.…

Comparison of the pragmatic performance of 40 Latino bilingual adolescents receiving English-as-a-Second-Language instruction or speech-language therapy found that students receiving speech-language therapy scored more poorly in expressing themselves, establishing greetings, initiating and maintaining conversations, and other topics. The group…

This practicum determined that students with language learning disabilities were not experiencing success in the regular classroom, and skills acquired in a pull-out program were not generalizing to the regular classroom. The practicum piloted a first-grade inclusion program which called for the resource room teacher and speech language…

An action research project implemented a program for improving the conversational skills of language impaired high school students. The students attended high school in a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Poor conversational skills in the language impaired students were documented through teacher observation, teacher assessment, and…

This study of a 5-year-old girl with sensorineural hearing loss examined the effect of supplementing a pragmatically based procedure of focused stimulation with structured opportunities for verbal practice using vertical constructions. Results indicated that focused stimulation was an effective treatment procedure, especially when enhanced by the…

This concluding article of an issue focused on the interaction of phonology with other aspects of language and language learning discusses findings that indicate the importance of considering these aspects when devising remediation strategies for a single domain. The need for future research is emphasized. (Contains 7 references.) (CR)

This article summarizes findings of studies on speech-language pathologists with varying levels of clinical experience, presents a working model of clinical expertise, offers comments concerning the development and maintenance of clinical expertise, and identifies some problems with research in this area. An appendix lists knowledge, skills,…

This article on speech-language therapy argues that new emphases on the client's life participation, involvement in clinical decision making, and cultural sensitivity should be seen as additions rather than alternatives to therapeutic impairment-oriented approaches. It proposes that the client's progression toward life goals be the standard used…

This study examined the impact of a training programme which aimed to support language-, literacy- and social-communication-promoting strategies for professionals working with children with language delay. Sixteen teachers, special needs assistants and therapists based in services for children with mild to severe learning difficulties attended…

Speech-language pathologists (N=21) and teachers (N=54) were surveyed regarding their perceptions of classroom-based interventions. The two groups agreed about the primary advantages and disadvantages of most interventions, the primary areas of difference being classroom management and ease of data collection. Other findings indicated few…

This article examines the implications of the British Code of Practice (which provides guidelines for the identification, assessment, and service provision of children with special educational needs) for children with speech and language difficulties. The confusion engendered by the code's guidance regarding provision of speech therapy as either…

Speech language pathologists providing collaborative-consultative services are urged to utilize a student skills framework, such as that of the MEGASKILLS approach, which focuses on developing students' confidence, motivation, effort, responsibility, initiative, perseverance, caring, teamwork, problem solving, and common sense. (DB)