Lauren Chadwick

Research Tools Using Mullins Library

1. Focus: Communication Disorders

2. Criteria used: Journal Article, Thesis/Dissertation, Book, Video, Reference
3. Criteria

Journal Article
Name of Journal: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Author: William Mandy, Adele Wang, Irene Lee, David Skuse
Year: 2017
Summary: This article discusses a new diagnosis of a communication disorder called Social
Pragmatic Communication disorder or (SPCD). This disorder is diagnosed by problems with both
verbal and nonverbal social communication. This disorder is fairly new so this study was
conducted in order to determine its validity. Due to the new nature of this diagnosis, the authors
compared the characteristics of SPCD to the characteristics of Autism Spectrum disorder due to
the similarities. Through their research the authors found that SPCD was not entirely distinct
from Autism Spectrum Disorder, but rather a diagnosis for individuals who are right on the
borderline of the Autism spectrum. This diagnosis has the potential to be very crucial for
individuals who don’t quite meet the characteristics of ASD, but still need therapy.

Thesis/Dissertation
Name of dissertation: Communication Disorders Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness
Author: Erin Alexander
Year: 2017
Summary: This thesis discusses the affects of communication disorders in a population that is not
often studied in this field; people who are homeless. These individuals are at risk for a variety of
health problems that then have the potential to result in communication disorders. In this study
the author researched both the characteristics of the communication disorder and the impact
this disorder had through a survey. This survey was taken by individuals who work at different
organizations that serve the homeless community. The results of the study displayed that the
communication disorders experienced by these individuals had a negative impact on both the
social and occupational functioning. Through the results of this survey the author concluded that
there is a strong need for collaboration between speech language pathologists and varying
organizations that work with people who are experiencing homelessness.

Book
Name of Book: Brain-Based Communication Disorders
Author: Leonard LaPointe, Bruce Murdoch, Julie Stierwalt
Year: 2010
What book is about: This book “introduces the reader to the major clinically recognized types of
acquired speech/language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders encountered by clinicians
working with child and adult neurological cases.”
 Lauren Chadwick

Video
Name of Video: Aphasia: Struggling for Understanding
Author: Pat Softly
Year: 2009
Name of Genre: Documentary television programs, news story

Reference
Name of reference: Stuttering
Author/Publisher: Harvard Heath Publications
Year: 2016
What the reference is about: This reference gives a definition of what stuttering is and the
characteristics/identifying features of this communication disorder.