Intended as a guide for reviewing the literature on the study of exceptional children, this book presents the authors' contentions that exceptional children may be more clearly understood through a study of language development and that language growth and language development represent an important developmental area which separates these children from children who fall within the range of normal or unremarkable development. Chapters focus on an overview of theoretical positions concerning language development; an overview of learning--theoretical positions and their relation to language development; standard and informal measurement of language processes--their application in the assessment of exceptional children; the language development of the multiple handicapped, of the mentally retarded, of the hearing impaired, of children with learning disabilities, and of emotionally disturbed children; speech irregularities; and the parent's role in fostering language growth and development in exceptional children. Each of the ten chapters contains a bibliography. (JM)