Metaphoric Comprehension in Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injury and in Adolescents With Language Learning Disability

1993 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger L. Towne ◽  
Laura M. Entwisle

The purpose of the present study was to compare comprehension of figurative language in the form of metaphors between adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and adolescents with language learning disability (LLD). The metaphoric comprehension subtest of the Test of Language Competence (Wiig & Secord, 1985) was administered to adolescents and young adults with TBI, to those with LLD, and to subjects without TBI and LLD (normal subjects). The results indicated that the subjects with TBI comprehended metaphors little differently than did the normal subjects. The subjects with LLD, in contrast, demonstrated significantly poorer comprehension of metaphors than both the normal subjects and subjects with TBI. These results are discussed in relation to appropriate special education needs and placement of the student with TBI.

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
DENISE D. VALLANCE ◽  
MAXINE GALLANDER WINTRE

Children with both a language impairment and a learning disability are at risk for poor social competence. Yet the processes that place these children at risk remain unclear. A developmental–organizational perspective was used to explore processes underlying risk for poor social competence among language learning disabled children. To this end, the relative influences of language learning disability and social discourse skills on social competence were examined in 50 language learning disabled (LLD) and 50 control (non-LLD) children aged 8–12 years. Findings indicated that social discourse skills mediated the relation between LLD status and children's social competence. Specifically, a domain of social discourse, figurative language, was the strongest mediator of the effect of LLD status on social competence. Additionally, differences were confirmed between the LLD and non-LLD group in two domains of social discourse, recreating sentences and figurative language, as well as social competence. Two other domains of social discourse, understanding ambiguous sentences and making inferences, did not discriminate the groups. The findings emphasize the importance of analyzing interrelations among domains to identify critical factors related to developmental outcomes.


2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1923-1929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanpei Gloria Yang ◽  
Jerome Fuller ◽  
Navid Khodaparast ◽  
Daniel C. Krawczyk

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacinta M. Douglas

Our ability to interact appropriately in everyday interpersonal situations is fundamental to successful social integration. Impaired pragmatic competence correlates significantly and substantially with indices of social function across several domains for adults with acquired neurological disorders. In particular, evidence supports the negative impact of pragmatic impairments on the development and maintenance of relationships and community integration more generally.Pragmatic language competence sits in a complex, multifactorial space characterised by interacting associations with cognitive and psychological functions and social and environmental parameters. This complexity is evident in much of the research seeking to unravel the nature and magnitude of interactions between pragmatic language competence and social outcomes in adults with acquired neurological disorders.Over recent years our understanding of the impact of pragmatic impairments on social outcome has benefited substantially from inclusion of the insider's perspective in our research evidence base. Indeed, a methodological inclusion of constructivist paradigms has enabled the development of a rich understanding of the devastating social impact of impaired pragmatic competence.The aim of this paper is to review pragmatic language impairment in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and detail its impact on social functioning from the perspectives of people with TBI and their intimate partners/spouses and friends. With these perspectives as background, the paper concludes with consideration of therapeutic developments and a brief look at a novel intervention designed to reduce the negative impact of pragmatic deficits and improve functional language use following TBI.


Author(s):  
Fareeaa Abdoola ◽  
Penelope S. Flack ◽  
Saira B. Karrim

Background: Role-based learning involves the process whereby learners acquire skills, knowledge and understanding through the assumption of roles within real-life settings. Role-play holds potential as an effective learning strategy for children; however, there is limited research on the use of role-play as a therapy method within the field of speech-language pathology. Children with language learning disability (LLD) typically present with difficulties in social communication, which can negatively affect their social and academic achievement.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of role-play as a therapy approach targeting the pragmatic skills of stylistic variation and requesting for clarification in learners with LLD.Method: The use of combined positivist and interpretivist paradigms allowed for the implementation of an embedded mixed methods design. An experimental pretest-posttest design was implemented. Eight participants, who were learners with a diagnosis of LLD, were purposefully selected. Data collection was conducted over five phases, utilising the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (4th Ed.) Pragmatics Profile, discourse completion tasks, session plans and session records. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and were supplemented by qualitative data from session records.Results: Results revealed improvements in stylistic variation and requesting for clarification post role-play intervention, with minimal changes in the control group. Limitations of the study have been reported for consideration when interpreting results.Conclusion: Role-play as a therapy approach targeting two pragmatic skills, stylistic variation and requesting for clarification, was found to be beneficial for learners with LLD. Recommendations for the implementation of role-play as a therapy approach were made.


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