Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-pkt8n Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-26T14:38:55.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Language Intervention for Children with Severe Intellectual Disability: The Effects of Different Interventions on Children’s Acquisition of Receptive and Expressive Language

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Roger Rees*
Affiliation:
School of Education, Flinders University of South Australia
Paula Williams
Affiliation:
School of Education, Flinders University of South Australia
*
Enquiries or correspondence relating to this article should be directed to Dr Roger Rees, Director, Institute for Learning Difficulties, School of Education, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE SA 5001, Australia

Abstract

Three years of intervention to improve the language skills of children with severe intellectual disability are reported. Family based teaching, therapy and counselling programs were used as the basis of the interventions. Repeated language measures (norm referenced) were used to assess the effects of the interventions. Comparison with other language intervention studies are made. The distinct features of the effective behaviourally oriented teaching program are identified.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Australian Association of Special Education 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adler, S., Nolan, O.J., Ford, A.T., Sinclair, S.S., & Wallace, S.M. (1980). An interdisciplinary language intervention program for the moderately to profoundly language-retarded child. New York: Grune and Stratton.Google Scholar
Agosta, J., & Bradley, V. (1985). Designing programs to support family care for persons with developmental disabilities: Concepts to practice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Human Services Research Institute.Google Scholar
Bailey, D.B., Simeonsson, R.J., Isbeli, P., Huntington, G.S., Winton, P.J., Comfort, M., & Helm, J. (1988). Inservice training in family assessment and goal-setting for early interventionists: Outcomes and issues. Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 12, 126136.Google Scholar
Berry, M.F. (1980). Teaching linguistically handicapped children. (Global Ontogenetic Teaching Program, 279–294) Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Bidder, R.T., Bryant, G., & Gray, O.P. (1975). Benefits to Down’s syndrome children through training their mothers. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 50, 383–386.Google Scholar
Braun, L.A., Coplon, J.K., & Sonnenschein, P.K. (1984). Helping parents in groups: A leader’s handbook. Boston: Resource Communication Inc.Google Scholar
Brien, D.N. & Joyce, D.G. (1985). Language intervention with the severely handicapped: A decade of research. Journal of Special Education, 19, 7–39.Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513–531.Google Scholar
Brown, R. (1973). A first language, the early stages. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Bruder, M.B., & Bricker, D. (1985). Parents as teachers of their children and other parents. Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 9, 136–150.Google Scholar
Bruner, J. (1974). The organisation of early skilled action. In Richards, M.P.M. (Ed.), The integration of a child into a social world. London: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Bruner, J. (1983). Child talk. New York: W.W. Norton Co.Google Scholar
Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Cipani, E. (1988). Behaviour analysis language program (BALP): Theory, assessment and training practices for personnel working with people with severe handicap. Bellevue, WA: Edmark.Google Scholar
Cooper, J., Moodley, M., & Reynell, J.K. (1979). The developmental language program: Results from a five year study. British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 14 (2), 5769.Google Scholar
Comett, B.S., & Chabon, S.S. (1988). The clinical practice of speech-language pathology. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Publishing.Google Scholar
Dunst, C.J. (1986). Overview of the efficacy of early intervention programs: Methodological and conceptual considerations. In Bickman, L., & Weatherford, D. (Eds.), Evaluating early intervention programs for severely handicapped children and their families. (pp1652011). Austin, Texas: PRO-ED.Google Scholar
Dunst, C.J., Trivette, C.M., & Deal, A.G. (1988). Enabling and empowering families: Principles and guidance for practice. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Brookline Books.Google Scholar
Durand, V.M., Crimmins, D.B., Caulfield, M., & Taylor, J. (1989). Reinforcer assessment I: Using problem behaviours to select reinforcers. Journal of The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 14, 113–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goetz, L., Gee, K., & Sailor, W. (1985). Using a behaviour chain interruption strategy to teach communication skills to students with severe disabilities. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 10 (1), 2130.Google Scholar
Goetz, L., & Sailor, W. (1988). New directions: Communication development in persons with severe disabilities. Topic. Language Disorders, 8 (4), 4154.Google Scholar
Goetz, L., Schuler, A., & Sailor, W. (1981). Functional competence as a factor in communication instruction. Exceptional Education Quarterly, 2, 51–61.Google Scholar
Goldstein, H., & Wickstrom, S. (1986). Peer intervention effects on communicative interaction among handicapped and nonhandicapped preschoolers. Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis, 19, 209–214.Google Scholar
Guralnick, M.J. (1989). Recent developments in early intervention efficacy research: Implications for family involvement In P.L. 99–457. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 9 (3), 117.Google Scholar
Halle, J. (1987). Teaching language in the natural environment: An analysis of spontaneity. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 12, 28–37.Google Scholar
Harris, S. (1975). Teaching language to nonverbal children: With emphasis on problems of generalization. Psychological Bulletin, 82, 565580.Google Scholar
Hegde, M.N. (1985). Treatment procedures in communicative disorders. Austin, Texas: PRO-ED.Google Scholar
Heifetz, L.J. (1977). Behaviour training for parents of retarded children: Alternative formats based on instructional manuals. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 82, 194–203.Google Scholar
Hersen, M., van Hasselt, V., & Marson, J. (Eds.) (1983). Behaviour therapy for developmentally and physically disabled: A handbook New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Horner, R.H., McDonnell, J.J., & Bellamy, G.T. (1986). Teaching generalized skills: General case instruction in simulation and community settings. In Horner, R.H., Meyer, L.H., & Fredericks, H.D.B. (Eds.), Education of learners with severe handicaps: Exemplary service strategies (pp289314). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Houghton, J., Bronicki, G.J.B., & Guess, D. (1987). Opportunities to express preferences and make choices among students with severe disabilities in classroom sellings. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 12, 18–27.Google Scholar
Johnson, M.A. (1979). Teaching your retarded child: A parent’s manual. Melbourne: Cassell.Google Scholar
Kavale, K. (1981). Functions of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguists Abilities (ITPA): Are they trainable? Exceptional Children, 47, 496–510.Google Scholar
Keller, F.S., & Ribes-Inesta, E. (1974). Behaviour modification applications to education. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Kent, L. (1974). Language acquisition program for the retarded and multiply impaired. Columbus, Ohio: Charles E. Merrill.Google Scholar
Lund, N.J., & Duchan, J.F. (1983). Assessing children’s language in naturalistic contents. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.Google Scholar
MacDonald, J.D. (1985). Teaching communication to your child. In Warren, S.F., & Rogers-Warren, A.K. (Eds.), Teaching functional language: Generalization and maintenance of language skills. Baltimore: University Park Press.Google Scholar
MacDonald, J.D., & Gillette, Y. (1985). Turntaking. Exceptional Parent, 15, 49–54.Google Scholar
MacDonald, J.D., & Gillette, Y. (1986). Communicating with persons with severe handicaps: Roles of parents and professionals. Journal of The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 11 (4), 255265.Google Scholar
Marfo, K. (Ed). (1988) Parent child interaction and developmental disabilities: Theory, research and intervention. New York: Praeger.Google Scholar
Miller, J.F. (1981). Assessing language production in children: Experimental procedures. Baltimore: University Park Press.Google Scholar
McCay, M., & Fanning, P. (1987). Self esteem: Cognitive techniques for assessing, improving and maintaining your self esteem. Oakland, California: New Harbinger Publications.Google Scholar
Mittler, P. (1986). Working together: Collaboration among professionals. The Australasian Journal of Special Education, 10, 21–27.Google Scholar
Nelson, K. (1973). Structure and strategy inleaming to talk. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 38, 149.Google Scholar
Nye, C. Foster, S., & Seaman, D. (1987). Effectiveness of language interventions with the language/learning disabled. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 52, 348–357.Google Scholar
Osgood, C. (1957). A behaviouristic analysis of perception and language as cognitive phenomena. In Osgood, C., Contemporary approaches to cognition (pp 75118). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Piper, M., & Pless, I. (1981). Early intervention for infants with Down’s syndrome: A controlled trial. Paediatrics, 65, 463468.Google Scholar
Prizant, B.M. (1983). Language acquisition and communicative behaviour in autism: Towards an understanding of the “whole” of it. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 48, 296307.Google Scholar
Rees, R.J. (1981). On being informed: Parent altitudes to services for children with special needs. In Rees, R.J., & Irvine, J.W. (Eds.). Responding to need: Special education in the 1980s. Armidale: University of New England.Google Scholar
Rees, R.J. (1989). DELSC (Developmental and language skills curriculum) How to use the DELSC. Tucson, Arizona: Communication and Therapy Skill Builders.Google Scholar
Reichle, J., & Keogh, W. (1986). Communication instruction for learners with severe handicaps: Some unresolved issues. In Homer, R., Meyer, L., & Fredericks, H.D.B. (Eds.), Education of learners with severe handicaps: Exemplary service strategies (pp 189220). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Reynell, J.K. (1981). Reynell developmental language scales. (2nd Version) Windsor: NFER-Nelson Publishing.Google Scholar
Schiefelbusch, R.L., & Bricker, D.D. (Eds.) (1981) Early language acquisition: Acquisition and intervention. Baltimore: University Park Press.Google Scholar
Schiefelbusch, R.L., & Hollis, J.H. (1979). Language intervention from ape to child. Baltimore: University Park Press.Google Scholar
Schiesinger, I.M. (1977). The role of cognitive development and linguistic input in language acquisition. Journal of Child Language, 4, 153169.Google Scholar
Shapiro, E.S., & Kratochwill, T.R. (1988). Behavioral assessment in schools: Conceptual foundations and practical applications. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Shatz, M. (1978). On the development of communicative understandings: An early strategy for interpreting and responding to messages. Cognitive Psychology, 10, 271301.Google Scholar
Shearer, M.S., & Shearer, D.E. (1977). Parent involvement. In Jordan, J.B., Hayden, A.H., Karnes, M.B., & Wood, M.M. (Eds.), Early childhood education for exceptional children: A handbook of ideas and exemplary practices. Reston, VA: The Council for Exceptional Children.Google Scholar
Siegel-Causey, E., & Guess, D. (1989). Enhancing nonsymbolic communication interactions among learners with severe disabilities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes 3946.Google Scholar
Siegel, G., & Vogt, M. (1984). Pluralization instruction in comprehension and production. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 49, 128–135.Google Scholar
Simeonsson, R.J., Cooper, D.H., & Scheiner, A.P. (1982). A review and analysis of the effectiveness of early intervention programs. Paediatrics, 69, 635–641.Google Scholar
Skinner, B.F. (1957). Verbal behaviour. New York: Appleton Century-Crofts.Google Scholar
Skrtic, T.M. (1991). Behind special education: A critical analysis of professional culture and school organisation. Denver, Colorado: Love Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Smith, D., McConnell, J., Walter, T., & Miller, S. (1985). Effect of using an auditory trainer on the attentional language and social behaviours of autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 15, 285–302.Google Scholar
Stopher, P.R. (1979). Survey sampling and multivariate analysis for social scientists and engineers. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Sundberg, M.L., Ray, P.A., Braam, S.J., Stafford, M.W., Rueber, T.M., & Braam, C.A. (1980). A manual for the use of B F. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior for language assessment and programming. Western Michigan University Behavioural Monograph, 9.Google Scholar
Terman, L.M., & Merrill, M.A. (1961). Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale Form LM (3rd Revision) London: Harrap.Google Scholar
Turnbull, A.P., & Turnbull, H.R. (1986). Families, professionals and exceptionality: A special partnership. Columbus, Ohio: Charles E. Merrill.Google Scholar
Turner, S., Sloper, P., Knussen, C. & Cunningham, C. (1991). Factors relating to self sufficiency in children with Down’s syndrome. Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 35, 1324.Google Scholar
Winton, P.J:, & Turnbull, A.P. (1981). Parent involvement as viewed by parents of preschool handicapped children. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 1 (3), 1119.Google Scholar