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COSD 635
Promoting Written Language Development in Children with Speech, Language, and Communication Impairments

1. Catalog Entry

COSD 635
Promoting Written Language Development in Children with Speech, Language, and Communication Impairments
Credit hours (3)

This course presents a discussion of best-practice guidelines for assessing and treating oral and written language competence in children affected by speech, language, and communication impairments. The focus will be on children from preschool through adolescence being treated in public school settings.

2. Detailed Description of Course

This class will focus on improving oral and written communicative competence for children with exceptionalities where a speech, language, or communication impairment is present. This includes children with language-learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, Down syndrome, and other conditions that adversely affect communicative competence. The focus of this class is children with exceptionalities, as opposed to limited English language proficiency or lack of exposure to instruction. Consistent with best-practice, this course will highlight an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Promoting collaboration with school-based professionals for the benefits of children will be emphasized.

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

This course will be didactic, generally implemented through in-class lectures.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

These goals and objectives have been adapted from the:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA, 2002). Knowledge and Skills Needed by Speech-Language Pathologists With Respect to Reading and Writing in Children and Adolescents [Knowledge and Skills]. Available from www.asha.org/policy.

Theory and Normal Development
• Students will describe current theories of written language development
• Students will be able to detail the trajectory or phases of reading development commonly reported in the literature for children with typical development
• Students will understand the intertwined relationships between oral and written language

Assessment/Identification
• Students will learn about which children may be at risk for oral and written language difficulties
• Students will appreciate how to identify at-risk children and advocate for their educational needs before they experience written language difficulties (e.g., Response to Instruction)
• Students will familiarize themselves with commonly used measures of oral and written language competence
• Students will recognize public school eligibility codes which may include children with oral and written language difficulties

Intervention/Treatment
• Students will recognize the expected development of written language in the context of general education curriculums
• Students will recognize elements of evidence-based literacy treatments
• Students will know how to target both oral and written language skills simultaneously and speak to the benefits of multi-modality instructional methods
• Students will learn to adapt curriculum materials to meet the needs of children with language disorders
• Students will learn how to teach written language to children with limited oral language

5. Assessment Measures

Student growth will be measured with formative tests.

6. Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval

April 8, 2014