language disorders midterm 2 study guide review

An SLP can make a diagnosis of ASD by themselves.

False

According to the DSM-5, which of the following features must be present for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Deficits in social communication & restricted/repetitive behaviors

A 5-year-old boy uses fluent speech to talk extensively about his favorite topic (train models). He rarely asks questions, doesn’t notice when peers lose interest, and often repeats facts from books. Which language domain is primarily affected?

Pragmatics

A 3-year-old child greets adults using scripted lines from movies (“To infinity and beyond!”) and rarely produces original phrases. What does this behavior most likely represent?

Echolalia

A 6-year-old child shows significant difficulty with social communication (poor turn-taking, limited gestures) but does not display restricted or repetitive behaviors. Which diagnosis best fits this child?

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SCD)

Which of the following describes echolalia?

Immediate or delayed repetition of phrases

Which of the following statements about language strengths in ASD is most accurate?

Vocabulary and rote memory may be relative strengths

A child with ASD answers “No, my toes on ground” after hearing “Dogs keep you on your toes.” This demonstrates a difficulty with:

Figurative language

Which of the following best describes Theory of Mind challenges in ASD?

Difficulty understanding others’ perspectives or emotions

In early childhood, which skill is best measured by observing turn-taking, eye contact, and shared enjoyment?

Pragmatic/social communication

A child responds to “Do you want a snack?” by immediately repeating,

“Want a snack?” This is an example of:

Echolalia

A 6-year-old child demonstrates fluent speech but consistently struggles with maintaining conversation topics, taking turns, and understanding sarcasm. Which language domain is primarily affected?

Pragmatics

Which of the following fits within the Activity & Participation component of the ICF?

Difficulty participating in classroom discussions

Which of the following fits within the Body Structures & Function component of the ICF?

Impaired expressive syntax

A child’s motivation & confidence in communication are considered Activity &

Participation factors.

False

As children enter school, language increasingly functions as:

A tool for academic learning and reasoning

Which classroom behavior best reflects a metacognitive skill?

Noticing confusion while reading and deciding to reread

Which of the following is an example of a metalinguistic skill?

Recognizing that “although” introduces a dependent clause

Metalinguistic skills support literacy because they allow students to analyze &

manipulate language structures.

True

Language difficulties may become more noticeable when academic language demands increase in school.

True

Provide one example of a metalinguistic skill & one example of a metacognitive skill used in the classroom.

Recognizing grammatical error

Provide one example of a metalinguistic skill & one example of a metacognitive skill used in the classroom.

Monitoring comprehension during reading

A child with DLD says, “He go school yesterday.” This error reflects difficulty

in:

Morphosyntax

Which of the following is a strong indicator of DLD in a bilingual child?

Persistent errors in both languages despite adequate exposure

Which processing weakness is commonly associated with DLD?

Reduced phonological short-term memory

Metalinguistic skills continue to develop throughout adolescence and support academic learning.

True

Bilingualism causes Developmental Language Disorder

False

A child can sound out words accurately but struggles to explain what they

mean. This profile reflects:

Reading comprehension impairment

Which skill is a component of phonemic awareness?

Segmenting /m/-/o/-/p/

Phonological awareness is considered a metalinguistic skill.

True

Dyslexia is caused by inadequate reading instruction.

False

Explaining why decoding & encoding are considered metalinguistic skills.

both require conscious reflection on sound-symbol relationships & manipulation of language structures!

Why is it hard to know the cause of ASD?

Because it involves a complex interaction of many genes + environmental factors (not just one cause)

According to the DSM-5, what MUST be present for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Deficits in social communication AND restricted/repetitive behaviors.

What is the main difference between ASD and SCD?

ASD includes restricted/repetitive behaviors; SCD does not

What language domain is affected when a child talks a lot but doesn’t notice others losing interest?

Pragmatics (social use of language).

What is echolalia?

Immediate or delayed repetition of words or phrases.

A child uses scripted phrases from movies instead of original speech. What is this?

Echolalia.

What diagnosis fits a child with social communication deficits but NO repetitive behaviors?

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SCD).

What are common language strengths in ASD?

Strong vocabulary, rote memory, and factual recall.

What are common language weaknesses in ASD?

Pragmatics, figurative language, and syntax.

What does difficulty with figurative language look like?

Interpreting phrases literally (e.g., “keep you on your toes” → thinking about actual toes).

What is Theory of Mind?

The ability to understand others’ thoughts, feelings, and perspectives.

What is a Theory of Mind deficit?

Difficulty understanding others’ perspectives or emotions.

What early behaviors measure social communication skills?

Turn-taking, eye contact, and shared enjoyment.

Why is it difficult to determine the cause of ASD?

It results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors.

What are the 3 main components of the ICF framework?

Body functions & structures, activity & participation, and contextual factors.

What does “body functions & structures” refer to?

The actual physiological or psychological functioning (e.g., impaired syntax).

What does “activity & participation” refer to?

How a person functions in real life (e.g., difficulty in classroom discussions).

What are environmental factors in ICF?

External influences like family, school, culture, and policies.

What are personal factors in ICF?

Individual characteristics like age, motivation, and confidence.

Are motivation and confidence activity/participation factors?

No, they are personal factors.

What is one purpose of the ICF framework?

To link impairments to real-life participation and guide intervention.

What is language mainly used for in school-age children?

Academic learning and reasoning.

What are metalinguistic skills?

The ability to analyze and think about language.

Give an example of a metalinguistic skill.

Recognizing a grammatical error.

What are metacognitive skills?

The ability to monitor and regulate your own thinking.

Give an example of a metacognitive skill.

Noticing confusion while reading and rereading.

What skill is shown when a student rereads after confusion?

Metacognitive skill.

What skill is shown when identifying grammar rules?

Metalinguistic skill.

What is DLD?

A neurodevelopmental disorder with persistent language difficulties not explained by other conditions

What percentage of children are affected by DLD?

About 7–11%

What is a common grammar error in DLD?

Missing tense markers (e.g., “He go yesterday”).

What language area is affected in “He go school yesterday”?

Morphosyntax.

What are vocabulary difficulties in DLD?

Slow vocabulary growth and word-finding problems.

What are narrative difficulties in DLD?

Poor organization and reduced coherence in storytelling.

What processing weaknesses are common in DLD?

Reduced phonological short-term memory, working memory, and processing speed.

What indicates DLD in a bilingual child?

Errors present in BOTH languages.

Does bilingualism cause DLD?

no

What is phonological awareness?

The ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in language.

What is phonemic awareness?

The ability to manipulate individual sounds (phonemes).

Give an example of a phonemic awareness skill.

Segmenting sounds (e.g., /m/ /o/ /p/).

What is decoding?

Converting written letters (graphemes) into sounds (phonemes).

What is encoding?

Converting sounds into written letters for spelling.

Why are decoding and encoding metalinguistic skills?

They require conscious thinking about sound–symbol relationships

What is dyslexia?

Difficulty with accurate or fluent word recognition due to phonological deficits

What is reading comprehension impairment?

Good decoding but poor understanding of meaning.

A child can read words but not explain them—what is this?

Reading comprehension impairment.

Is phonological awareness a metalinguistic skill?

yes

Is dyslexia caused by poor teaching?

no