Background: Research on communication intervention with young children provides support for the involvement of primary caregivers in their child’s language intervention (Kaiser, & Roberts, 2011; Roberts, & Kaiser, 2011). Research suggests that the perceptions of these caregivers regarding their child’s language development and their role in the language development process are important to their willingness to use intervention strategies (Kaiser, & Hancock, 2003; Leffel, & Suskind, 2013). Furthermore, studies suggest that the severity of child language difficulties may impact on these perceptions (Brady et al., 2006; Romski et al., 2011). However, there is a lack of research on how primary caregivers from non-Western, non-English-speaking backgrounds perceive their child’s language development and understand their role. Aims: The study investigated the perceptions of isiXhosa-speaking primary caregivers of children who receive speech-language therapy regarding their child’s language development across three expressive language groups (i.e. not speaking, speaking in single words and phrases, speaking in sentences). Perceptions on the basis of duration and frequency of the speech-language therapy, and child age are also described. Methods: Thirty primary caregivers of young children (30 to 70 months) completed the South African Caregiver Perception of Language Development (SA-CPOLD) in a structured interview format using the Talking Mats™ visual framework (Murphy, & Boa, 2012). These results were compared across three child expressive language groups, as determined by scores on the Mullen Scale of Early Learning, and language sample analysis data (i.e. mean length of utterance and number of different words). Results: The primary caregivers of the children who were speaking in either single words and phrases or speaking in sentences demonstrated more positive perceptions than caregivers of children who were not speaking, although this did not reach a conventional level of significance. Caregivers of children across the three expressive language groups acknowledged their child’s language difficulties, however primary caregivers of the children who were non-speaking agreed more with statements related to their child’s difficulty. Perceptions did not appear to differ on the additional variables (i.e. duration and frequency of speech-language therapy, and child age). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that isiXhosa-speaking caregivers’ perceptions of their child’s language skills are related to their expressive language skills to some extent and that these caregivers are able to accurately report on their child’s language difficulties. Keywords: caregiver perceptions, disability and developmental delays, early language intervention, isiXhosa, language delays, South Africa / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / MAAC / Unrestricted

The relationship between play gesture performance and language milestones was examined for 6 children with cleft lip and/or palate at 20, 24, and 30 months of age. Standardized measures of language development, language samples, and a play gesture protocol were administered and analyzed at each assessment. Results showed language delays for several of the children with cleft palate and displayed a complex relationship between play and language development. The results show parallels between single object use and vocabulary development as well as sequential play gestures and structural aspects of language use. Data from this study demonstrated slow play gesture and language development for children with cleft palate only.

The purpose of this study was to assess the differential effects of grammatical and telegraphic input on word learning and language productivity in children with expressive language delays. Two case studies are presented. In Study 1, the participant received focused stimulation treatment over eight sessions. Type of language input (i.e. telegraphic or grammatical) was alternated across sessions. In Study 2, the participant received focused stimulation treatment over 16 sessions divided into two eight-session phases. Language input was alternated across phases. Participant characteristics limited definitive conclusions regarding word learning. Productive language differences during treatment sessions were observed for both participants. Participant 1, who entered treatment with a larger vocabulary and spontaneous production of some word combinations, demonstrated a higher mean length of utterance in words (MLUw) in more of the sessions under the grammatical condition. Participant 2, who demonstrated severe deficits in speech intelligibility, imitated the clinician more often in the telegraphic sessions. Results support the need for improved systematic study of language input variables in treatment as well as the careful selection of language input protocols based on initial client abilities and treatment outcome goals. / text

Young children with expressive language delay often present with limited vocabulary and reduced length of utterance. In consideration of the relationship between vocabulary and grammar, intervention that targets vocabulary may also result in improved syntax development. This study investigated whether a hybrid approach to verb-focused vocabulary intervention would result in improvements in increased use of target words, increased expressive vocabulary and/or increased sentence length. Four participants, aged two years nine months to three years six months participated in an intervention program that targeted vocabulary, specifically verbs. Number of target verbs, number of different words (NDW) used and mean length of utterance (MLU) were measured in baseline, intervention and post-intervention phases. Results indicated that all participants had increased use of targeted words and increased NDW. The majority of participants also had increased MLU. These findings suggest that verb-focused vocabulary intervention has the potential to have broad effects on the language skills of young children with expressive language delay. Further research is warranted to determine whether similar results would be found in a larger cohort. The study also raises questions around choice of intervention targets and intervention approaches for young children with expressive language delay.

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Abstrakt Språkstörning är en diagnos som innebär att barnet har en språklig svårighet. Barnet har svårt att förstå vad som sägs, att producera och använda ord för att kunna kommunicera med andra. För att dessa barn ska få en optimal språkutveckling under sin förskoletid behöver de möta stöttande och medvetna pedagoger som utformar verksamheten utefter varje barns individuella behov. Barn med språkstörning har ofta kombinationer av andra diagnoser till exempel ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Syftet med vår studie har varit att bidra till fördjupad kunskap kring vilka insatser som görs för barn inom förskolan som befinner sig i en språkstörning eller på grund av sen språkutveckling riskerar att få diagnosen språkstörning. Studien syftar vidare till att undersöka hur specialpedagoger går tillväga för att stödja barn som befinner sig i en språkstörning i förskolan och vilka konsekvenser språkstörningen får för den enskilda individen. Vi har använt oss av semistrukturerade intervjuer och genomfört sex intervjuer med specialpedagoger.   När vi sammanställt resultatet kom vi fram till att specialpedagogerna är medvetna om vad en språkstörning innebär. Specialpedagogerna kartlägger och handleder pedagogerna för att hitta de bästa strategierna för barnens fortsatta språkutveckling. Beroende på stora barngrupper och vilket bemötande barnet får och om pedagogerna är mottagliga för alternativa arbetssätt skapas möjligheter och hinder i verksamheten. Specialpedagogerna uttrycker att barnen behöver samspela med andra och ingå i en vanlig förskolegrupp för att utveckla sitt språk. Förskolans lärmiljö är barnens arena för lärande och inlärning med andra.

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