Speech and Language Intervention in Down Syndrome

This text provides speech and language therapists and language researchers with a state-of-the art review covering all aspects of speech and language development in individuals with Down syndrome. Written by leading experts in the field, it includes chapters on: the principles which should guide intervention; prelinguistic development; pragmatics and communication; literacy and language; augmentative communication; intervention with adolescents and adults; maintenance of skills for older adults; and a perspective on pertinent issues. Each chapter summarizes research and provides guidelines for effective interventions.

This book should be a valuable guide to those working in the field who wish to be able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals with Down syndrome and to contribute to their quality of life by improving their communication skills.

Preface v
Jean A Rondal

Contributors vii

Chapter 1 Principles of language intervention 1
Jean A Rondal, Sue Buckley

Chapter 2 Prelinguistic training 11
Jean A Rondal

Chapter 3 Phonological working memory difficulty and related interventions 31
frances A Conners

Chapter 4 Speech acquisition and approaches to intervention 49
Carol Stoel-Gammon

Chapter 5 Lexical development and intervention 63
Carolyn B Mervis, Angela M Becerra

Chapter 6 Morphosyntactic training and intervention 86
Jean A Rondal

Chapter 7 Pragmatic development and communication training 98
Leonard Abbeduto, Yolanda Keller-Bell

Chapter 8 Augmentative communication 116
Gaye Powell, John Clibbens

Chapter 9 Literacy and language 132
Sue Buckley

Chapter 10 Continues language intervention with adolescents and adults with down syndrome 154
Christine Jenkins

Chapter 11 Maintenance training in older ages 166
Jean A Rondal

Conclusion 184
Sue Buckley, Jean A Rondal

Appendix 1: Major acquisitions in morphosyntactic development 188
Jean A Rondal

Appendix 2: Bilingual and multilingual issues 195
Jean A Rondal

Index 207

Edited by Jean Rondal, University of Liege, Belgirm and Sue Buckley, The Down Syndrome Educational Trust and University of Portsmouth, UK. This text provides speech and language therapists and language researchers with a state-of-the art review covering all aspects of speech and language development in individuals with Down syndrome. Written by leading experts in the field, it includes chapters on: the principles which should guide intervention; prelinguistic development; pragmatics and communication; literacy and language; augmentative communication; intervention with adolescents and adults; maintenance of skills for older adults; and a perspective on pertinent issues. Each chapter summarizes research and provides guidelines for effective interventions.

This book should be a valuable guide to those working in the field who wish to be able to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals with Down syndrome and to contribute to their quality of life by improving their communication skills.