Perspectives on Language Learning and Education

Coordinator's Column

Hoffman, L. M. — 2013-03-15T10:05:02-07:00

Behavior Problems and Social Functioning in Adolescents With Language Impairment

Karasinski, C. — 2013-03-15T10:05:02-07:00

Adolescents with language impairment (LI) often are underidentified and may be perceived as lazy or noncompliant, rather than as individuals with LI. In this article, the author discusses two possible reasons for this underdiagnosis of LI in adolescents. First, many adolescents with LI present with comorbid behavior problems, which may be the primary concern of parents and school officials. Second, some adolescents with LI perform within age expectations on basic linguistic skills, but difficulties are apparent in higher-level linguistic tasks, including oral and written narrative comprehension and production. Given that adolescents with LI may present with comorbid behavior and academic and social deficits, it is crucial that speech-language pathologists provide identification, direct intervention, consultation with teachers, and leadership in order to facilitate improvement in behavioral, academic, and social functioning. The article provides recommendations for and examples of interventions, which must be administered using contextually relevant activities, and also highlights the importance of collaboration with others in the adolescent's social and academic settings.

Expository Discourse Intervention for Adolescents With Language Disorders

Ward-Lonergan, J. M., Duthie, J. K. — 2013-03-15T10:05:02-07:00

Speech-language pathologists play a crucial role in helping adolescents with language disorders improve their ability to comprehend and produce the language of the curriculum (i.e., expository discourse) and, thus, enhance their potential for academic success. The purpose of this article is to present numerous treatment techniques and strategies for increasing both spoken and written expository discourse skills in this population.

Adolescent Literacy: Looking Beyond Core Language Learning Deficits

Sun, L., Wallach, G. P. — 2013-03-15T10:05:02-07:00

In this article, the authors take a hard look at the changing nature of language disorders across time with a particular focus on the specific challenges facing adolescents. The high school setting can be an especially demanding one academically, but it is also a place and time where social and emotional challenges interact with—and have an impact on—students' linguistic and curricular success. The article outlines selected language-based literacy initiates with an eye toward consideration of the social and emotional components of intervention.

Teaching Words to Adolescents With Language Disabilities

Montgomery, J. K. — 2013-03-15T10:05:02-07:00

Vocabulary development occurs throughout our lives; thus, adolescents—a challenging population to teach or remediate—are simply in the middle of this word-acquisition process. Strategies for this age group must address word learning in creative ways. In this article, the author proposes three intervention strategies for adolescents with language disabilities that link to the Common Core State Standards, academic content expectations, and salient features of the English language.