language disorders in children

What are the three primary domains of language?

• Form = structure of language

• Content = meaning of language

• Use = social application of language

What language components are included in the Form domain?

• Syntax

• Morphology

• Phonology

Memory trick: Form = how language is built.

What is Syntax?

Syntax is the organization of words into grammatically correct sentences.

Test clue: If the question mentions sentence structure or word order → Syntax.

What is Morphology

Morphology is the internal structure of words, including morphemes such as plural -s and present progressive -ing.

Test clue: If the question discusses parts added to words → Morphology.

What is Phonology?

Phonology is the sound system of language.

Test clue: If the question discusses speech sounds or sound patterns → Phonology.

What is Semantics?

Semantics is the meaning of language, including vocabulary and relationships between words.

Test clue: Meaning or vocabulary → Semantics.

What is Pragmatics?

Pragmatics is the social use of language, including communication rules and discourse.

Test clue: Social communication → Pragmatics.

How can I quickly identify the five language components on a test?

• Syntax → sentence structure

• Morphology → word parts/morphemes

• Phonology → sounds

• Semantics → meaning/vocabulary

• Pragmatics → social use

What are the three levels of the Speech Chain?

1. Acoustic Level → physical sound waves

2. Motor Level → physical production or receiving of speech sounds

3. Linguistic Level → brain processing language

What happens at the Acoustic Level of the Speech Chain?

The physical transmission of sound waves.

Test clue: Sound waves traveling → Acoustic Level.

What happens at the Motor Level?

The physical act of producing speech sounds or the auditory system physically receiving sounds.

Test clue: Mouth producing speech or ears receiving sound → Motor Level.

What happens at the Linguistic Level?

The brain processes language.

• Receptive → understanding an incoming message

• Expressive → creating a message to communicate

Test clue: Brain assigning meaning → Linguistic/Receptive.

What is the first communication subdomain?

Early Pragmatics

Focus: Social communication foundation.

Includes:

• Joint visual attention

• Turn-taking

• Requesting

• Initiating and maintaining topics

When does joint visual attention typically emerge?

Around 10–12 months.

Test clue: If asked about an early interactive communication act around 10–12 months → Joint visual attention.

What is the Vocabulary subdomain?

Semantic growth involves vocabulary development and word meaning.

Milestones:

• First words: approximately 10–16 months

• About 200–500 words by age 2

When do children typically begin word combinations?

After reaching approximately 50 words.

Examples of semantic relations:

• Agent + Action

• Action + Object

What does Action + Object mean?

An action is paired with the thing receiving or involved in the action.

Example: “Push truck”

Test clue: Verb/action + thing → Action + Object.

What is Morphosyntax?

The development of grammar, including morphology and syntax.

It typically emerges around ages 2–3 and includes bound morphemes.

What are bound morphemes?

Word parts that cannot stand alone and must be attached to another word.

Examples:

• -ing

• plural -s

What is the Advanced Discourse subdomain?

More complex social communication that develops approximately between ages 3–7.

Includes:

• Humor

• Sarcasm

• Politeness

• Narratives

What is Late Language Emergence (LLE)?

A delay in early language development.

A child described as a “late talker” may initially be classified as having LLE.

A 2-year-old has fewer than 50 words. What concept should you think of?

Late Language Emergence (LLE) / “late talker.”

Important: Do not automatically assume the child has DLD without further assessment.

What are the three components of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?

• Clinical Expertise

• Stakeholder/Client Perspectives

• Internal & External Evidence

What is Clinical Expertise in EBP?

The clinician's experience and rational thinking when making clinical decisions.

What are Stakeholder/Client Perspectives?

The client's or family's personal and cultural values and perspectives.

This can include:

• Social validity

• Patient-reported outcomes

What is Internal Evidence?

Evidence based on professional observations and clinical information.

What is External Evidence?

Evidence from high-quality research studies.

What is Level I Evidence?

The strongest level listed in your study guide.

Includes:

• Randomized experimental research

• Meta-analyses

Test clue: Meta-analysis of randomized studies → Level I.

What is Level II Evidence?

High-quality, non-randomized experimentation.

What is Level III Evidence?

Non-experimental studies, including:

• Case studies

• Single-subject designs

What is the main idea of Behaviorism?

Language is learned through environmental stimuli and reinforcement.

Key person: B.F. Skinner

What teaching approaches are associated with Behaviorism?

• Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

• Chaining

• Reinforcement

What is Discrete Trial Training (DTT)?

A highly structured teaching method involving:

1. Stimulus/instruction

2. Child's response

3. Consequence or reinforcement

Example:
“Say ball” → child responds → “Good job!”

What is Chaining?

Teaching a behavior or skill by breaking it into a sequence of steps.

Test clue: If the question focuses on learning steps in a sequence → Chaining.

What is the main idea of Piaget's Cognitive Constructivism?

Language development is connected to the development of cognitive skills.

Children actively build their understanding of the world.

What are Piaget's four stages?

• Sensorimotor

• Preoperational

• Concrete Operations

• Formal Operations

What is a Schema?

A mental framework or concept used to organize and understand information.

What is Assimilation?

Fitting new information into an existing schema.

Example: A child sees a camel and calls it a horse because they fit the camel into their existing “horse” concept.

What is Accommodation?

Changing or creating a schema because new information does not fit the old one.

Example: The child learns that camels and horses are different and develops a new concept for camels.

What is the difference between Assimilation and Accommodation?

• Assimilation = new information fits into an existing schema

• Accommodation = the schema changes to fit new information

Memory trick:
Assimilation = add it to what you already know
Accommodation = adjust what you know

What is the main idea of Social Interactionism?

Language development is motivated and supported by social interaction and connection.

Key person: Lev Vygotsky

What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?

The area between:

• What a child can do independently

• What a child can do with assistance

Test clue: “Can do it with guidance but not alone” → ZPD

What is Scaffolding?

Providing temporary support or guidance to help a child successfully complete a task they cannot yet do independently.

What is Private Speech?

When children talk to themselves to guide their thinking or behavior.

What is the difference between ZPD and Scaffolding?

• ZPD = the learning zone where the child can succeed with help

• Scaffolding = the support provided to help the child succeed

What is Emergentism?

The theory that language development emerges from the interaction between:

• Biology

• Environment

• Engagement/experience

What tools or technology can be associated with Emergentism?

• fMRI

• CHILDES

These can be used to analyze language development and data.