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Communication
   Disorders
By Carrie, Kathleen & Maggie
Let’s Play Telephone!
What is a Communication
    Disorder and Why is
  Communicating Effectively
         Important?

• Failing to transfer information from one
  person to another.

• Students with a CD frequently perform
  below grade level.
Frequency of Communication
        Disorders
• 1 in 6 (16%) people in the U.S. has a
  communication disorder. That is approx.
  42 million people.
• 10% of our population has a functional
  speech disorder, of which 8% to 9% of
  those require treatment.
A Look at Pinellas County
                 Statistics




Pinellas County has approx. 104,000 preK-12 public school students. 16% of
                104,000 is approx. 16,640 students with a CD.
Speech and Language
       Disorders

• Speech Disorder – Difficulty producing
 sounds, as well as disorders of voice quality.
  *Example: Stuttering
• Receptive Language Disorder –
 Difficulty comprehending what is said.


• Expressive Disorder - Difficulty using
 spoken language.
English as a Second
            Language
• A language difference is not the same as
  a disorder. However, not speaking English
  can be an impediment to effective
  learning.

• A foreign dialect can be a problem for non-
  native English speakers.
Typical Development
Five Components to Language System
• Phonology – The use of sounds to make
  meaningful syllables & sounds.
• Morphology – The system that governs the
  structure of words.
• Syntax – Rules for putting together a series of
  words to form sentences.
• Semantics – The meaning of what is expressed.
• Pragmatics – The use of communication in
  context.
Determining the Causes
• Organic Causes – Identifiable
  problem in the neuromuscular
  system.

• Functional Disorder – No identifiable
  neuromuscular cause.
Effects Of Socio Economic Status
                 (SES)
• There is a discrepancy between low SES (often
  including ELL) and high SES student
  achievement.
“On Average, children from low-income families
  acquire language at a slower rate & demonstrate
  both differences in language use and poorer
  language skills than children from higher income
  families. Low SES is also a correlate of the
  diagnosis of specific language disorders.”
      --The MIT Encyclopedia of Communication
      Disorders, Raymond Kent
Speech Disorders
• Includes disorders of articulation, voice
  and fluency.
Articulation Disorders

    • Most common disorder among the
             youngest students.
• Substitutions – For example, sounds such
 as /d/ for /th/. DOZE for THOSE.
• Omissions – Leaves a phoneme out of a word.
 For example “ap” for apple.
• Additions – Adding a vowel between two
 consonants. Ger-een for green.
Distortions –     Not producing a
 phoneme correctly. Often a lisp.
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwjO-vWo4Oc
Speech Apraxia –              The brain knows
 what it wants to say, but can’t deliver the
          message to the mouth.
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYmm23EPXjU
Voice Disorders
        • Pitch


        • Intensity


        • Resonance
Fluency Disorder
• Fluency – The rate and rhythm of
             speaking.
Language Impairments
• Phonology - Unable to differentiate between
  sounds. For example, BAT and PAT.

• Morphology - Trouble with the structure of words.
  For example, adding an ED to signify past tense.

• Syntax – Trouble constructing a sentence.

• Semantics – Relates to the meaning of a sentence.

• Pragmatics – Social use of language.
Evaluating Students with
Communication Disorders
Determining the Presence of
  Communication Disorders

1. Observation
    • Parents & Teachers
      *Child has difficulty utilizing & comprehending language.
      *Child has difficulties with speaking clearly.
    • Medical Personnel
      *Child not achieving developmental milestones
       related to communication skills.
      *Change in communication skills.
Determining the Presence of
Communication Disorders (cont.)
2. Screening (Also described as an
  “Intervention” by many school districts)
     • Classroom Work -- Child may be afraid to
      participate verbally in class due to disability.
      Written work may be safer form of expression.
     • Vision Screening -- Limited vision may impact
      communication skills.
     • Hearing Screening -- Child may have hearing
      loss or history of inner ear infection.
Determining the Presence of
Communication Disorders (cont.)
3. Prereferral
     • Implementation of suggestions from a school-
       based team.
        *Teachers model speech sounds, increase
         student’s language.
        *Parents may implement suggestions from the
         team if child has been identified before entering
         school.

4. Referral
     • Child referred to multidisciplinary team if he or she
       still performs poorly in academics or continues to
       have communication impairments.
Determining the Presence of
    Communication Disorders (cont.)
5. Nondiscriminatory Evaluation
Procedures and Standards
•Speech Assessments
*Articulation – evaluates student’s ability
to produce speech sounds        in single
words, sentences and conversation.
Appearance, strength and abilities of lips,
tongue, palate and      jaw are also
evaluated at this time (Oral Motor Exam).
*Voice – evaluates voice problems and
factors affecting voice quality such as
pitch, intensity, nasality.
*Fluency – measures the amount of
dysfluency (impairment of the ability to
produce smooth, fluent speech)and
duration of dysfluency while student is
speaking.
Determining the Presence of
Communication Disorders (cont.)


                 • Language
                   Assessments
                 *Focus on phonology, semantics,
                    syntax and overall
                   expressive/receptive language.

                 *SLP observes child in different
                   environments and with different
                   people including friends,
                   teachers, classmates.
Determining the Presence of
    Communication Disorders (cont.)
6. Determination
•   SLP determines if the child
    has a communication
    disorder and if this disorder
    affects the child’s learning.

•   SLP utilizes culturally
    sensitive therapies for
    bilingual students.
Multicultural
          Considerations
• Bilingual or multilingual students need
  specialized speech/language assessments.
  Difficult to make fair assessments of these
  students.
• Should the student be tested in their native
  language or in English?
• SLP normally tests students in their dominant
  language.
• SLP must determine – Is it a language
  difference or a disability?
Role of Speech Language
          Pathologists
• Direct contact with students is majority of workload.
• Programming augmentative communication devices
  and educating paraprofessionals on how to use them.
• Align IEP goals with teachers and paraprofessionals.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  identified four different types of activities that SLP’s
  use in schools:
      1. Direct services to schools
      2. Indirect services to implement student’s
            education programs
      3. Indirect services to support students in the
            general education curriculum
      4. Activities as members of the community of
           educators
A Speech Language Pathologist
      Speaks About Student
           Assessment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssz_cutETTE&list=FLs36MXXg507Hju44DEWLTZQ&index=1&feature=plpp_
Accommodations in the
     Classroom
Presentation
• Do adaptations need to be made to
  instruction & materials?
  *Keep a slow paced delivery & speak
 clearly (If needed, allow students to tape the
 lecture on a recorder.)
  *Provide step by step directions
  *Use visual support to help the student
 understand (gestures, pictures, printed
 handouts, graphic organizers)
  *Stay well-organized. Don’t rush transitions to
 new topics & activities
The Importance of Graphic
         Organizers
• During a lecture, they provide a visual
  representation and can be used as a
  reference during discussions later on.
• During reading, they help guide
  organization and make great study guides.
• Visually links together groups of important
  information for the students!
Response
• Do adaptations need to be made to
  assignments & assessments in order for
  students to successfully participate?
   *Allow student extra time to verbally respond
 to questions. (Cues and advanced notice can be
 used to help students prepare and reduce
 anxiety)
   *Written assignments & exams might be used
 in place of oral presentations or reports.
   *Multiple choice/True & False formats can be
 used to avoid long written or oral responses.
   *Extra time might also be needed for tests.
Setting
• Do adaptations need to be made to
  the learning environment?
 *Reduce noise and talking in the classroom.
 *Have the student sit at the front of the
 class during instruction & lectures.
 *Alternate ways for student to contribute
 vocally to class & group discussions.
 *Allow use of special communication devices.
Assistive Technology
     Alternative Vs. Augmentative
         Low tech Vs. Hi Tech

• Kidsperation
Software
• Portable
Communication
Devices (Go
talk systems,
Iphone/Ipad
Apps.)
• Graphic
  Organizers
• Communication
  Message Boards
• Communication
  Bracelets
• Picture
  Books/Boards
ELL Students with
Communication Disorders
            • Use pictures as often as
            possible, visual images are
            much easier to understand
            than audio.
            • Collaborate with the ESL
            teachers, SLPs & parents
            on objectives and goals.
            • Consider the cultural and
            linguistic factors that affect
            delivery.
            • Encourage Peer Buddies
            and class interactions.
You Can Conquer
  Communication Disorders!
Just Ask these Familiar Faces!