As a speech-language pathologist, you're always seeking effective, evidence-based methods to improve your practice and enhance the outcomes for your clients. A recent study titled "Experientially based narrative instruction: A neurocognitive perspective" offers promising insights into improving the personal narrative language abilities of school-age children with Down syndrome. This blog will explore the key findings of this study and how you can apply these principles to your practice.
Understanding the Research
The study evaluated the feasibility of a personal narrative intervention based on neurocognitive principles and experientially based learning. Conducted with an 8-year-old child with Down syndrome, the intervention aimed to improve narrative quality, language productivity, and lexical diversity over a 14-week period.
Key Outcomes
- Narrative Quality: The participant showed significant improvements in creating complete personal narratives, including essential story elements like character, setting, and action.
- Language Productivity: There was a noticeable increase in the total number of utterances and mean length of utterances, indicating enhanced expressive language skills.
- Lexical Diversity: The participant demonstrated a broader use of vocabulary, incorporating more verbs and different words in his narratives.
Applying These Principles in Your Practice
Here are some practical steps to implement these research findings:
- Experientially Based Activities: Engage children in meaningful, real-life activities that they can later describe. This approach helps in linking language to authentic actions, making it easier for children to recall and narrate.
- Neurocognitive Supports: Use icons, graphic organizers, and story scripts to support memory, unification, and control. These tools can help children organize their thoughts and recall important details.
- Interactive Storytelling: Create opportunities for children to practice their narratives in a supportive environment. Encourage them to use graphic organizers and verbal cues to enhance their storytelling.
- Parental Involvement: Educate parents on the importance of narrative skills and provide them with tools like graphic organizers to use at home. This can help reinforce the skills learned during therapy sessions.
Why This Matters
Improving narrative skills in children with Down syndrome is not just about enhancing their language abilities; it's about empowering them to share their experiences, engage in meaningful conversations, and build stronger social connections. The research highlights the importance of discourse-level language proficiency for social competence, making it a critical area of focus for intervention.
By integrating these evidence-based strategies into your practice, you can make a significant impact on the lives of children with Down syndrome, helping them to communicate more effectively and confidently.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Experientially based narrative instruction: A neurocognitive perspective.
