As a practitioner dedicated to enhancing the outcomes for children and young adults with developmental language disorder (DLD), staying informed about effective interventions is crucial. A recent study titled "Effectiveness of intervention focused on vocational course vocabulary in post-16 students with (developmental) language disorder" offers valuable insights into how targeted vocabulary interventions can significantly improve the learning outcomes for students aged 16-19 years. This blog will delve into the study's findings and discuss how you can implement these strategies in your practice to achieve better outcomes for your students.
Understanding the Study
The study involved 28 college-aged students with DLD, who were provided with a specialized vocabulary intervention targeting course-specific terms. The intervention was conducted over nine weeks, with each student receiving 30-minute one-to-one sessions from their usual speech and language therapist (SLT). The intervention focused on:
- Identifying the intervention focus
- Recapping previously taught terms using an online flashcard program
- Explicitly teaching new words using word maps
- Adding new words to the online flashcard program
The participants were assessed at four time points: 3 months pre-intervention, immediately pre- and post-intervention, and 3.5 months after intervention. The results showed significant progress in vocabulary knowledge, particularly for words targeted both in lessons and SLT sessions. This progress was maintained for 14 weeks post-intervention.
Key Findings and Implementation Strategies
The study's findings highlight several key points that can inform your practice:
1. Importance of Direct SLT Intervention
The study found that direct one-to-one vocabulary intervention with an SLT led to significantly greater gains in knowledge of course-specific terminology compared to in-course teaching alone. This underscores the importance of providing individualized support to students with DLD.
2. Use of Word Maps
Word maps were used to help students understand and retain new vocabulary. This method involves creating a definition, pictorial representation, and exploring phonological and morphological properties. Implementing word maps in your sessions can enhance vocabulary learning and retention.
3. Online Flashcard Programs
The use of an online flashcard program for spaced retrieval practice proved effective in reinforcing previously taught words. Incorporating digital tools like Quizlet into your practice can provide students with interactive and engaging ways to review vocabulary.
4. Focus on All Word Classes
The intervention targeted nouns, verbs, and adjectives, ensuring a comprehensive approach to vocabulary learning. Make sure to include a variety of word classes in your vocabulary interventions to address the diverse needs of your students.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of SLT interventions in improving vocabulary knowledge for post-16 students with DLD, it also highlights the need for further research. Future studies could explore the long-term impact of such interventions on academic and career success, as well as investigate the effectiveness of different intervention components.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Effectiveness of intervention focused on vocational course vocabulary in post-16 students with (developmental) language disorder.
