Developmental language disorders (DLD) occur when a
child fails to develop his or her native language often
for no apparent reason. Delayed development of speech
and/or language is one of the most common reasons for
parents of preschool children to seek the advice of
their family doctor. Although some children rapidly
improve, others have more persistent language
difficulties. These long-term deficits can adversely
affect academic progress, social relationships and
mental well-being. Although DLDs are common, we are
still a long way from understanding what causes them and
how best to intervene. Understanding Developmental
Language Disorders summarises the recent research
developments in genetics and neuroimaging studies,
assessment techniques and treatment studies to provide
an overview of all aspects of DLD.The book investigates
the possible genetic and biological causes of the
disorder, how best to assess children's language skills
to identify when and where communication breakdown
occurs, what the long-term outcomes are for children who
grow up with DLD, overlaps between DLD and other
childhood disorders such as dyslexia and autism and how
best to treat children with the disorder. Each chapter
is written by a leading authority in the field in a
format accessible to researchers, clinicians and
families alike. This book, with its focus on both theory
and practice, will be invaluable to students and
researchers of speech-language pathology, psychology,
psychiatry, linguistics and education. It will also be
of interest to practicing speech-language pathologists,
clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, educational
psychologists, and teachers and parents of children with
developmental language disorders. |
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