Language disorders in children can present a significant challenge, not only for the children themselves but also for their families and educators. As practitioners, it is our duty to equip ourselves with the most effective strategies to support these children. The research presented in "Treatment Protocols for Language Disorders in Children Volume I: Essential Morphological Skills Volume II: Social Communication" by M.N. Hedge provides a comprehensive guide to enhancing our therapeutic approaches.
Understanding the Research
The two-volume set by Hedge focuses on two crucial aspects of language development:
- Volume I: Essential Morphological Skills - This volume addresses the foundational grammatical structures that children need to develop. It covers functional words, phrases, sentences, and morphological features such as tense markers, prepositions, and plural and possessive markers.
- Volume II: Social Communication - This volume delves into conversational and narrative skills, including adjectives, adverbs, demands and commands, negative sentence forms, passive sentences, and conversational skills like topic initiation, turn-taking, and conversational repair.
Implementing the Research Outcomes
To effectively implement the research outcomes in your practice, consider the following steps:
- Establish a Baseline: Before beginning any treatment, it's essential to understand the child's current language abilities. Use the protocols provided in the research to establish a baseline for each targeted skill.
- Structured Teaching: The research emphasizes a highly structured, didactic approach to teaching language skills. Use the provided scripts and templates to guide your sessions, ensuring that each target is practiced repeatedly until the child achieves mastery.
- Generalization: One of the challenges noted in the research is the generalization of skills to spontaneous conversation. While the manuals provide limited guidance on this, it is crucial to create opportunities for the child to use the learned skills in natural, conversational contexts. This can be achieved through role-playing, interactive games, and real-life scenarios.
- Incorporate Non-Verbal Supports: The research suggests using pictures or objects to support language learning. While the manuals do not provide these items, it is beneficial to gather relevant materials that can aid in teaching the target structures.
Encouraging Further Research
While the research by Hedge provides a solid foundation, it is essential to stay updated with the latest developments in the field. Consider exploring additional resources and research studies to enhance your understanding and skills. Some areas to explore include:
- Milieu Teaching: This approach incorporates behavioral techniques within natural conversations, following the child's focus of interest. Research by Hancock and Kaiser (2006) provides valuable insights into this method.
- Generalization Techniques: Look for studies that offer strategies for moving from structured drills to spontaneous conversation. This is often the most challenging step in language intervention.
- Functional Communication Development: Examine how different therapy approaches support functional communication development, ensuring that the skills learned in therapy are applicable in real-life situations.
By continuously improving our knowledge and skills, we can provide the best possible support for children with language disorders, helping them to unlock their full potential.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Treatment Protocols for Language Disorders in Children Volume I: Essential Morphological Skills Volume II: Social Communication.
