scholarly journals A Transdisciplinary Conceptual Framework for the Early Identification of Risks for Communication Disorders in Young Children

2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alta Kritzinger ◽  
Brenda Louw ◽  
Louis M. Rossettil
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Communication Intervention ◽  
Early Communication ◽  
Opportune Time ◽  
Descriptive Survey

The early identification of infants with communication disorders or at risk for communication delays is still one of the biggest challenges of early communication intervention (ECI) and threatens to compromise its efficacy. Current approaches to the early identification of young children at risk for communication disorders involve strategies aimed at the identification of general developmental delays and may not be sufficiently sensitive and specific enough to detect the early stages of communication disorders. The risks for mortality and health are often identified early in life, but the concomitant risks for communication disorders in the same young children are frequently not identified at that opportune time. The current study involved a descriptive survey, describing the identification of communication disorders in 153  subjects, whose data was stored in and retrieved from a customized ECI database system. The findings revealed that the subjects were assessed at the average age of 18 months, but that identifications of risk conditions occurred prenatally, at birth, after the perinatal period and later in life. The time of identification related to the different communication disorders identified in the subjects and caregivers played a major role in detecting the first signs of communication disorders in their children. In order to provide a guideline for clinical practice, a transdisciplinary conceptual framework towards a coordinated effort for the early identification of risks for communication disorders in young children is proposed.

Early Detection of Learning Problems: Questions, Cautions, and Guidelines

1973 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara K. Keogh ◽  
Laurence D. Becker
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Learning Problems ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Screening Techniques ◽  
Functional Aspects

Assumptions underlying programs of early identification of young children viewed as educationally “at risk” are reviewed in terms of the research literature relevant to questions of validity of identifying or screening techniques, implications of recognition for remediation, and possible compounding negative effects of early identification. Guidelines for development and implementation of programs of early detection are proposed. Recommendations include emphasis upon techniques which are short term and educationally oriented and which are based on functional aspects of children's behavior in classroom settings.

scholarly journals Young children with fetal alcohol spetrum disorder - communication profiles

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari De Beer ◽  
Alts Kritzinger ◽  
Ursula Zsilavcz
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Communication Intervention ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prenatally Exposed ◽  
Case Histories ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Early Communication ◽  
Communication Assessment

The aim of the article is to describe the communication profiles of five young children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) from 4 to 58months of age. A collective case-study design following a quantitative and descriptive approach was used to describe the communication profilesof the participants. The results are described according to the participants’ case histories and a four-level early communication assessment framework.The significant findings were that all participants were in foster care, and presented with incomplete case histories, general developmentaldelays and delays regarding all aspects of their communication abilities. An increase in the severity of the spectrum disorder across the participants’combined communication profiles was also identified. Participants presented with complex multiple neurodevelopmental needs thatshould be viewed within a developmental systems and ecological framework. The importance of early identification, diagnosis and assessmentof infants and young children prenatally exposed to alcohol, the identification of precursors to communication impairment at a very early age,and the need for individualised early communication intervention to improve developmental outcomes within a family-centred approach arediscussed. Suggestions for future research to accumulate knowledge about FASD in the field of early communication intervention are made.

Novel Stimuli for Obtaining Nasalance Measures from Young Children

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Watterson ◽  
Julie Hinton ◽  
Stephen Mcfarlane
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ◽  
Children At Risk ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mean

The use of novel stimuli for obtaining nasalance measures in young children was the focus of this study. The subjects were 20 children without a history of communication disorders and 20 children at risk for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Each subject recited three passages; the standard Zoo Passage, and two novel stimuli that were named the Turtle Passage and the Mouse Passage. Like the Zoo Passage, the Turtle Passage contained no normally nasal consonants. The Mouse Passage was about 11% nasal consonants, which is similar to the Rainbow Passage. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the mean nasalance for the Zoo Passage and the Turtle Passage for either the subjects without risk of VPI (15.4% vs 15.7%) or for those at risk (30.4% vs 28.8%). Nasalance measures for the Mouse Passage were significantly higher than for either the Zoo Passage or the Turtle Passage. Listeners rated the stimuli on a 5-point equal-appearing intervals scale. The correlation coefficient between listener judgments of hypernasality and nasalance was significant for the Zoo Passage (r = 0.70) and for the Turtle Passage (r = 0.51) but not significant for the Mouse Passage (r = 0.32). Using cut-off scores of 22% for nasalance and 2.25 for hypernasality, the sensitivity for the Zoo Passage was 0.72, and for the Turtle Passage, 0.83.

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