SPTHAUD 5204

Language Disorders of Children: Assessment and Management

3 credit hours
Semester:
Schedule:
Instructor:
Office Hours:

Fall, 2014
Monday/Wednesday 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Davis/Banajee
By appointment (568-4336/568-4344)

Course Description: Varying types of language impairments that are found in children
with atypical development are overviewed. Emphasis will be placed on children on the
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Standardized and non-standardized assessment
procedures are presented, and basic intervention techniques for children are addressed.
Textbooks:
Paul and Norbury (2011). Language Disorders from Infancy through Adolescence:
Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Communicating. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby
Prelock, P. (2006). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Issues in Assessment and Intervention.
Austin: TX: Pro-Ed.
Course Objectives: The following objectives will be addressed through lectures,
discussions, laboratories, and other assignments. Students will
Evidence understanding of component parts of language
Evidence understanding of a number of standardized language tests
Evidence understanding of descriptive approaches to language assessment
Evidence understanding of the etiologies of language disorders
Demonstrate proficiency in eliciting language samples
Demonstrate proficiency in analyzing language samples
Learn to interpret test results
Evidence understanding of principles underlying intervention approaches
Learn to develop an intervention plan
Be able to evaluate success of intervention
Develop awareness of cultural differences across assessment and management
Evidence understanding of communication skills of children with ASD
Evidence understanding of principles underlying different intervention approaches
used with children with ASD
Learn to develop an intervention plan to address different aspects of communication
disorders for children with ASD
Recognize family issues with children with communication disorders

SPTHAUD 5204 Language Assessment/Management

p. 02

Course Requirements:
1. Laboratories: Students will work in groups to evaluate communication skills of
children with various disabilities including at least one child with ASD. Each
group will determine the appropriateness of the formal assessment procedures
and/or language sample procedures for a child they evaluated. They will also
determine a treatment and lesson plan from test results and present that to the
class.
2. NICU visit: Each group will have the opportunity to visit the NICU at Childrens
Hospital. Dr. Barkemeyer has generously offered to take the students around the
NICU to show them infants with various disorders. This will be followed by a
short lecture on his experience with his daughter Anna who has significant
disabilities. The group will submit a summary of the infants they observed in the
NICU with each student writing a short paragraph on one infant.
3. Attendance policy: Attendance is required in all classes. If you must miss class
because of an illness, injury or emergency situation, you need to let the instructor
know as soon as possible. It is the students responsibility to find out information
that was covered in class the day of the absence. An absence will be defined as
missing more than 30 minutes of any particular class session. Cell phone
use/texting/browsing on the internet or engaging in an activity other than that
required for the class will strictly prohibited during class times. Engaging in these
activities will result in taking points off from the class participation category.
4. Grading: Grades will be determined according to the total points accumulated
across the laboratories, presentations, NICU project and class participation. Class
participation will be worth 10 points. Assessment reports and treatment plans will
be worth 50 points and presentations will be worth 15 points and graded on a 5
point scale.
Assessment (preschooler/infant):
25 points
Treatment plan (preschooler/infant): 25 points
Assessment (ASD child):
25 points
Treatment plan (ASD child):
25 points
NICU observation:
10 points
Class presentation 1:
15 points
Class presentation 2:
15 points
Class participation:
10 points
The following grading system will be followed:
90% - 100%
A
80% - 89%
B
70% - 79%
C
60% - 69%
D
Below 60%
F

SPTHAUD 5204 Language Assessment/Management

p.03

Tentative Course Outline

August 13
Introduction and overview
August 18
Language disorders vs. language differences
August 20
Conditions placing children at risk for language impairment
August 25
Risk conditions contd.
August 27
Parent/caregiver interviews and counseling/cultural issues
September 01
September 03
September 08
September 10
September 15
September 17
September 22

Labor Day Holiday

Practice interviewing
Promoting Adaptive behavior in the clinical setting
Assessment principles in pre-linguistic period
Assessment tools for infant-toddlers
Observe and score Mother/Child interaction
Principles of intervention/development of treatment/lesson
plan for infants and toddlers
September 24 Preschool diagnostics review instruments
September 29 Preschool diagnostics Language sample
October 01
October 06
October 08
October 13
October 15
October 20
October 22
October 27
October 29

Preschool diagnostics continued

Conduct assessment and develop treatment plan in groups/NICU
Conduct assessment and develop treatment plan in groups/NICU
Presentation of treatment assessment and treatment/lesson plans
Presentation of treatment assessment and treatment/lesson plans
(contd.)
Autism and related disorders: Trends in Diagnosis
Interdisciplinary assessment model and approach
Understanding and assessing communication of children with ASD
Understanding and assessing play of children with ASD

November 03 Understanding the need for assessing and providing interventions

to support sensory and motor skills of children with ASD
November 05 Understanding the need for assessing and providing interventions
to support social-emotional needs of children with ASD
November 10 Interventions to support the communication of children with ASD
November 12 Interventions to support the play of children with ASD
November 17 Family Issues Associated with ASD
November 19 ASHA
November 24 Conduct assessment and develop treatment plan/NICU
November 26 Conduct assessment and develop treatment plan/NICU
December 01 Presentation of assessment and treatment and lesson plans
December 03 Presentation of assessment and treatment and lesson plans

Policies and procedures related to student conduct:

http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/administration/professionalconduct.pdf
Guidelines for students with disabilities:
http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/Administration/ADAPolicy.pdf
Academic standards:
http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/Admin/academicstandards.aspx
Academic calendar:
http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/Administration/AcademicCalendar.aspx
Catalog/Bulletin:
http://catalog.lsuhsc.edu/