Overview
In this assignment, you are asked to do a research-based paper on social and communication characteristics of children with disability. For this paper, you have to select a disability (choices are given, e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, etc.) and conduct a research on the language, social and communication aspects of this disability.
Choices of disabilities (note terminology used in DSM 5)
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) / (Language Disorder, DSM 5)
Autism (DSM 5)
Down Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome
Williams Syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Auditory Impairment / hearing loss
Childhood Aphasia of Speech
Pragmatic Communication Disorder (DSM 5)
Childhood Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering, DSM 5)
Cerebral Palsy
For this Assignment
You are asked to find at least 5 peer-viewed articles in addition to the Reed text and course readings to support your analysis. These articles should be accessible through PsycInfo or Linguistic and Language Behavior Abstracts and described as peer-reviewed in these databases. You are also asked to apply what you have learned from the Reed textbook (2018) and course readings.
Instructions
Your paper should address the following elements:
Select a disability and provide an in-depth description of the definitional criteria and characteristics of the disability and its etiology. (5 points)
Provide information about the diagnosis process – typical age, who generally recognizes the symptoms, who diagnoses, etc. (3 points)
Describe the typical language skills of children with this disability, with regards to: (5 points)
Phonology
Semantics
Syntax and morphology
Pragmatic
Comprehension
Provide an in-depth description of the language challenges faced by children with this (5 points)
Explain how gesture and any other social communicative tools are used by children with this disability (5 points)
For example, co-ordinated eye gaze, triadic communication, intentional goal-directed communication, gestures, extralinguistic aspects of speech (prosody) or body movements or any other aspect of social communication.
Discuss how the use of these communicative tools may present challenges for a child with a disability (5 points)
Clarity of writing. (5 points)
Adherence to the formatting requirements described in the instructions. (2 points)
Page formatting and page length
APA is followed throughout the paper (with the exception of the Reed text, which is cited APA+ page number e.g., Reed, xxx); 12 point Times New Roman font, double spaced, 2.5 cm margins; reference list, headers and page numbers are included.
Page length : Title page (1 page) + body (10 pages maximum) + references (no limit)
