Causes of Communicative Disorders Articulation Preventable Hearing loss Dental abnormalities Chronic infections Most types of mental retardation Infections diseases (mumps, measles) Non Preventable Developmental immaturity Neuromuscular disorders Some type of genetic disorders

Causes of Communicative Disorders Voice Preventable Vocal abuse Upper respiratory infections Allergies Airborne irritants Smoking, drugs, & alcohol abuse Some hearing loss Trauma & injury Some genetic disorders Non preventable Constitutional factors Some cancers Viral infections Some genetic disorders Some hearing loss

Causes of Communicative Disorders Language Preventable Familial factors Cultural factors Some types of MR, genetic disorders, and brain damages Malnutrition Low birth weigh Prenatal alcohol & drug use and smoking Strokes Environmental pollutants (lead) Non-preventable Some types of hearing loss Some genetic disorders Developmental immaturity Autism Progressive neurological deficits Suspected constitutional factors resulting in psychosis Some types of mental retardation

Causes of Communicative Disorders Fluency Preventable Environmental factors, i.e, general & communicative stress Adverse reactions by/to others Cultural factors Non-preventable Suspected genetic factors Suspected neuro-physiology problems

Perspectives on Language Development Behavioral Approach (BF Skinner 1950’s) environmental variables-parental input Psycholinguistic/Syntactic Approach (Noam Chomsky 1950-60’s) we are prewired, born with a linguistic mechanism Semantic/Cognitive Approach (Bloom 1970) study on the meaning of an utterance instead if syntax semantic relation, the categories of meaning children use meanings are based on cognitive knowledge, not syntax

Perspectives on Language Development Pragmatic Approach Bruner, (1970’s) early reflexive behaviors and gestures are refined through repeated communicative interactions languages learned in order to socialize and direct the behavior of others McLean and Snyder-McLean (1978-1999) language is acquired and only develops if the child has a reason to talk A child’s language grows when he/she participants in dynamic interactions with mature language-users