Course Description
Examines typical and atypical communication development in children 0-5 years, and is designed specifically for the early childhood special educator. Issues in communication development for young children with special needs will be highlighted, including assessment, intervention, and issues specific to children with diagnosed developmental disorders.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will write a literature review of research
examining a specific communication intervention for children
with disabilities. The final product will be 15-20 pages in
length, and be completed in addition to the other requirements
of the course.
Athena Title
Comm and Lang Dev Young Child
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EDSE 5160E or EDSE 7160E
Prerequisite
EDSE 2000 or EDSE 2000E or HDFS 2950-2950L or HDFS 2950E or EDUC(EPSY) 2130 or EPSY 2130E or EPSY 2130H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: •Explain the historical and philosophical foundations of services for young children with and without exceptional learning needs •Explain the influence of the major theorists in communication and language development on early childhood education and early childhood special education practice •Understand typical communication development •Be familiar with common techniques and practices for assessing communication and language in young children •Understand the role of the family in assessment of young children •Understand issues around communication, language, and assessment of young children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds •Be familiar with interventions for young children with communication/language delays •Understand the impact of developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder on communication and language development •Understand the impact of communication and language delays on other areas of development and behavior •Understand how to support the family in interactions with their child that are facilitative of communication and language development •Understand the role of the early childhood special educator in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary service models •Be familiar with communication systems promoting adaptive functioning and independence of young children with communication and language needs
Topical Outline
- Communication and language theories - Communication development in infants - Communication/language development in toddlers - Communication/language development in preschoolers - Promoting communication and language development in young children - Association of communication/language to other areas of development - Federal services/programs/Law - Assessment of communication/language - Issues around communication/language for young children who are culturally/linguistically diverse - Identification/diagnosis of communication delays/disorders - Communication intervention for infants/toddlers - Communication intervention for preschoolers - Supporting families in facilitating their child’s communication - Augmentative and alternative communication - Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) - Communication and language in young children with ASD - Communication intervention in young children with ASD