This paper describes a pilot project to train rural native American paraprofessional personnel to deliver routine speech-language services to children under the overall supervision of a certified professional. The program had three components: on-site visits, desk-top conferencing, and distance training. The program was implemented at one…

These four quarterly newsletter issues address various topics of interest to teachers of young children. Each issue focuses on a theme and includes an article on that theme, along with regular columns. The Fall 1997 issue focuses on kindergartners as inquirers and on using a negotiated curriculum in the early childhood setting. The vice…

This commentary reviews the articles in this special issue focusing on treatment of preschool and school-aged students with fluency disorders. The commentary addresses therapy and counseling models, the importance of attending to attitudes among children and parents, service delivery models for school programs, transfer of training, and recent…

This article discusses four solution-focused assumptions in providing early intervention services to children with speech-language disabilities and their families. These assumptions are: a polyocular perspective promotes successful family participation in treatment, a family's story contains resources for change, successful experiences promote…

This article offers the viewpoint of a local educational authority officer concerning the British Code of Practice (1994), which provides standards for the legal statement, review, and reassessment processes for students with special educational needs. Positive and negative implications, as well as the historical and administrative context, are…

Discusses the inappropriate referral of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students for speech-language therapy. Preassessment considerations that should be considered and the interrelatedness of culture, language, and communication as they impact on an individual learner's behavior are explained. Culturally appropriate assessment…

Twelve school-based speech-language practitioners enlisted the assistance of a university clinical phonologist to implement a research project investigating phonological acquisition. The speech samples of 520 children (ages 2-8) were transcribed. The 3-year-olds had acquired all major phoneme classes except liquids, /l/ was acquired between 4- 5,…

Assesses protocol for conducting a functional analysis of maintaining variables for children with selective mutism. A parent was trained in and later applied various behavior strategies designed to increase speech in an eight-year-old girl with selective mutism. Parent and child ratings of treatment were positive. Presents implications for future…

Verifies observations made of the American Indian population, who appear to demonstrate a high incidence of chronic hoarseness. Examines hoarseness in the general population, American Indian communication styles, causes of Indian voice disorders, study methods, and study results. Speculates that one possibility for the hoarseness is the…

Background: Children with specific speech and language difficulties (SSLD) pose a challenge to the education system, and to speech and language therapists who support them, as a result of their language needs and associated educational and social-behavioural difficulties. The development of inclusion raises questions regarding appropriate…

This report presents the conclusions of a consortium of organizations on the development of a framework for the appropriate preparation, use, and supervision of paraprofessionals in the delivery of speech and language services in early intervention and educational settings for children with communication disorders. The framework establishes three…

Consonant harmony, a complex phonological assimilation in which segments (usually consonants, but sometimes even vowels) become identical, which occurs in the speech of young children and adult aphasics, is analyzed, particularly as it occurs in Finnish-speakers. Consonant harmony has an articulatory basis: it is a trend toward repetition of the…

This book provides an overview of communication disorders and their causes and provides suggestions for strategies to be used by the classroom teacher in collaboration with the speech-language pathologist and audiologist to enhance communication skills development. Chapters have the following titles and authors: "Articulation Disorders" (Rhonda S.…

This publication is one of a series resulting from the broad study, "Qualification and Preparation of Teachers of Exceptional Children," which since 1952 has been one of the major projects of the Office of Education. The participation of more than 2,000 persons concerned with handicapped and gifted children is an example of cooperative action…

This article outlines key components of a medical evaluation of a child who is not talking. Factors to consider during diagnosis and screening are discussed, including the presence of mental retardation, hearing impairments, autism, cerebral palsy, and other disorders. The physiology of speech/language disorders in children is also examined.…