Language disorders

  • Early speech sound disorder alone confers a low risk on reading difficulties

    Early speech sound disorder (SSD) combined with other risk factors, such as language impairment (LI) and dyslexia, can have negative consequences on literacy development, according to new research from Marianna Hayiou-Thomas and colleagues.

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  • Routine screening is needed to identify language problems in children with ADHD

    In 2017, Emma Sciberras and colleagues conducted a Research Review for the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry to rigorously analyse how common are language problems in children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Here, the researchers discuss their main findings and explain why they consider that a screen for language function would be a valuable addition to current ADHD assessments.

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  • Children with a language disorder are vulnerable to sexual abuse

    Preliminary data suggest that children with language disorder may be at an increased risk of child sexual abuse (CSA),1,2 but few have studied the CSA experiences, disclosure patterns or reactions to disclosure in these children.

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  • edmund sonuga-barke

    From punk rock to academic heavyweight

    While at university Edmund became fascinated by behaviourist approaches to psychology which bring together philosophy, methodology and psychological theory.

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  • Language stability in primary school-aged children hinders catch up for those with language disorders

    In 2017, the Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry published the latest results of the Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES), in which Courtenay Frazier Norbury and colleagues investigated language growth and stability in a population cohort of children with varying degrees of verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities and a wide range of additional diagnoses.

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  • boy looking straight down camera

    DLD – Developmental Language Disorder

    Developmental language disorder (DLD) is diagnosed when a child’s language skills are persistently below the level expected for the child’s age. In DLD, language deficits occur in the absence of a known biomedical condition, such as autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome, and interfere with the child’s ability to communicate effectively with other people.

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  • Processing speed determines dyslexia risk

    Males exhibit a lower average reading performance than females, according to new data from Anne Arnett and colleagues. The researchers devised a framework to first validate the apparent sex difference in prevalence of dyslexia and then determine which cognitive correlates may underlie this difference.

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  • Guest Blog

    The inclusive nature of bereavement – all children grieve

    Individuals with special educational needs and disabilities are also affected by bereavement, including children with the severest SEND.

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  • Welsh branch puts on dyslexia day with academic heavyweights

    Conference review Dyslexia: From assessment to intervention This September saw ACAMH’s Wales branch host a one day conference on dyslexia in Cardiff. Over sixty delegates made the trip to the city’s All Nations’ Centre to listen to talks from leading researchers and practitioners. The day was opened with a warm welcome from Dr Owen Barry, […]

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  • joe elliott slide

    The pariah of dyslexia

    Sometimes, academia calls for a thick skin, particularly if you’re notorious for denouncing an entire area of research.

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