Standardized norm-referenced language assessments are used to identify developmental language disorder (DLD) in bicultural Navajo children. However, these assessments do not include normative data for Navajo children, the majority of whom are exposed to both Navajo and English, and consequently the assessments may not reflect their true language…

The article reviews research on the language basis of reading disabilities and draws implications for early identification. The article considers language problems in reading-disabled children, follow-up studies of language-impaired children, and phonological processing and reading disabilities. Implications include the value of preschool…

This paper discusses the legal and ethical duty of professionals working with children to recognize possible child abuse and report it to the appropriate authorities. Concerns about false or unnecessary reports are addressed, factors associated with the decision to report are examined, and indicators of possible abuse are reviewed. (JDD)

The memory deficits associated with the dementia syndromes of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lewy body disease are outlined and related to the language impairments that have been observed in patients with these disorders. Assessment techniques are described, including commonly used individual tests and test batteries that assess memory and…

Appropriate identification/assessment of limited English speaking students requires: (1) the use of both standardized and nonstandardized assessment instruments and techniques, and (2) the use of speech-language pathologists or interpreters who are proficient in the students' native language. (JDD)

This review looks at the impact of word finding deficits, psycholinguistic considerations in naming (including relevant intrinsic and extrinsic variables), behaviors indicative of word finding difficulty, screening for word finding disorders in the classroom, direct assessment (both formal and informal), individual differences, and word retrieval…

Subcultural differences existing among various Chinese immigrant groups are described, through examination of such cultural characteristics as languages, religions, philosophy, and family life. Two case studies reveal the difficulties inherent in conducting educational evaluations of Chinese children with special needs. (JDD)

A case study of a hearing-impaired 7-year-old Hmong boy illustrates the complex process involved in identifying a limited English speaking child's learning, speech, language, and hearing disabilities. The process requires uncovering past experiences and evaluating environmental and cultural factors. The history and culture of the Hmong people are…

Explains how many of the narratives told by children are mapped onto frameworks carried in long-term memory. Assessment methods that speech-language pathologists can use to determine whether a child can use narrative frameworks and how to explain the assessment results are discussed. (Author/CR)