communication disorders
TRANSCRIPT
EPSE 317
This is Nicholas (Kolya)
• Kolya is 11 years old
• In Grade 5 at Pitt Polder Elementary in Coquitlam
Kolya’s family
• Parents emigrated from Russia in 2000• They own a health-food store in Coquitlam where they
work long hours• Family is very active in a Russian Evangelical Church
located in Langley• Grandma emigrated with them and spends lots of time
with kids.• Kids:
– Anya, 14, born in Russia, now attending Coquitlam Secondary
– Vladimir, 6, in Grade 1 at Pitt Polder
• Family speak Russian at home. Kids speak English among themselves, but Granny has no English.
More about Kolya
• Born with a cleft palate– Repaired surgically when he was 11 months– Second surgery when he was 6 years old to
improve quality of speech
• Some problems with the formation of his teeth
• Generally healthy but has had recurring bouts of middle ear infections and had tubes inserted when he was 8.
• Kolya has had speech therapy throughout his preschool years and during his primary years at Pitt Polder
• His speech is now clear, but still a bit nasal
• He is very talkative, always has been.• Increasingly it seems as though his
speech is “cocktail chatter”—no real content.
Socially
• Kolya has no close friends at school• Never invited to parties or sleep-
overs• Involved in Sunday School group
Wednesday nights and Saturdays.• Teachers have noticed that he his
very bossy in groups of children—always has to have things his way.
School
• Not a strength• Parents question why—they think Kolya’s very
intelligent—he spoke early and lots• Slow to learn to read and shows poor
comprehension• Barely meeting grade expectations in math
– Difficulty in applying math facts, even when allowed to use a calculator
• Argues with teachers– Tries to negotiate his own terms for assignments– Resists all attempts to correct mistakes
No IEP
• Parents (understandably) feel Kolya and they have had enough of experts for a lifetime.
• They don’t want any more assessments or corrective interventions.
The Future:
• Kolya really likes motorbikes and guns.
• Wants to be a policeman.• He’s a big kid, and can enforce the
rules he sets other kids…
• Get out your crystal balls…
Communication Disorders
• Speech Disorders– Articulation– Fluency– Voice
• Language Disorders– Form of language (phonology, morphology,
syntax)– Content (semantics)– Function of Language (pragmatics)
• Hearing Disorders
Communication Variations
• Language (English as a second language)
• Dialect difference• Augmentative/Alternative
communication– Sign– Symbol systems
Assessment and Identification
• FNSA recognises Communication Disorder as a fundable designation
• BC Ministry of Education does not, but:– “Any student with delayed, disordered
or atypical speech and/or language skills should be brought to the attention of the speech-language pathologist.”
Assessment and Identification, cont’d
• “They are often associated with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, severe emotional/behaviour problems, learning disabilities or other learning difficulties.” (MOPP&G)
• Referral procedures will vary from district to district but involve school-based team evaluation or a collaborative model including parents, administrators and teachers.
• Some districts may use school-wide screening in early years.
• Supports based on formal and informal assessment, and coordinated with other learning plans for student.
Speech Disorders
• Articulation and Phonological disorders– Can be due to physical structure of palate – Can be environmental—what child can hear,
has heard, etc.– Lisps, omissions, insertions,
mispronunciations– Can include effects of hearing loss, auditory
processing, neurological and neuromuscular impairments (e.g., oral dyspraxias).
Voice Disorders
• Volume, quality, and pitch– Chronic hoarseness most common voice
disorder among children– Resonance (stuffy nose sound, or twang)
• Can mark a hearing loss
Fluency Disorders
• Stuttering• Cluttering (And he—oh, you know—
took the the thing—the thing with the you know—the pencil—to write in the –er—the um—I don’t know—in the notebook…)
• Prosody (speech rhythm), intonation (speech pitching)
Stuttering
• Various theories why• Neurological• Worsens with nerves• Give child time, don’t suggest words• Don’t let anyone tease kid who
stutters or who has other speech problems.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_oELP5xN2w&feature=related
Language Disorders
• Form: how rules organise language–Morphology—structure of words (plurals,
tenses, comparatives)– Content—semantics—meaning of words
and word combinations– Syntax –ordering of words—vocabulary
alone doesn’t do it: Consider• The dog bit the boy.• The boy bit the dog.• Same words, very different meaning.
• Use: (Pragmatics)– Not just spoken language– Register (what level of speech is
appropriate for a particular setting)• Not overly formal among peers• Not overly casual among teachers, elders, …
– Pace—turn taking, not interrupting– Politeness. Beginning and ending
conversations.
Adaptations/Accommodations
• Practice in following directions• Pair students and practice descriptions
(“I see something that…”)• Categorizing (sets of diverse items—
sort various ways)• Facilitative play• Don’t be too helpful—don’t anticipate
before a child asks. Get it wrong sometimes.
• Role play real life activities• Cloze activities—”We’re going to play
baseball. We need a bat and a ____”• Music and play “Down by the Bay…”• Set up classroom for interactions. • Work with SLP• Give child opportunity to communicate
with many people. (One may start to second-guess and scuttle language development.)
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Communication that doesn’t involve speech.
• Augmentative—supplements existing skills
• Alternative—other techniques in place of speech
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Various combinations of:– Symbols– Aids– Techniques– Strategies
• Non-technical—communication boards, books
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxNR_jePRj8&feature=related
• Technical• Dynavox• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA
dEOXD9Tvk&feature=related
• iPhone