Treatment Protocols for Language Disorders in Children

Book excerpt: This unprecedented book combines the best features of a textbook, resource manual, and guidebook, providing clinicians with evidence-based treatment protocols and detailed plans for teaching language skills and treating language disorders. The uniqueness of this collection lies in the author's approach, as each protocol gives the clinician a plan of action in the form of scripted scenarios. Unlike step-by-step directions, which can leave room for ambiguity, these scripts specify the anticipated verbal and nonverbal actions the clinician and child are expected to exhibit. Dr. Hegde, who has authored several well-received textbooks and practical clinical titles for speech-language pathologists, distills his unparalleled knowledge of clinical practice in this book, the first of Plural's Protocols. Dr. Hegde's careful review of treatment research evidence and his decision to offer only procedures that are evidence-based result in a collection of procedures that have been proven effective in clinical and experimental studies, eliminating the need for clinicians to research teaching exemplars. Designed for ease of use, Dr. Hegde's book facilitates treatment planning and implementation by greatly reducing preparation time. Protocols for all major functional language targets are included, each containing a specific plan of action with twenty examples of target behavior for each language skill. Each procedure is designed as a self-sufficient, separate entity, so that clinicians need not refer back and forth to teach a particular skill. The accompanying CD is an invaluable resource, containing printable forms that can be customized to assist clinicians in organizing clinical sessions, tracking client progress, and reporting results. The protocols are also ideal for student practicum sessions and courses in child language disorders.