Conversation skill intervention programme for adolescents with learning disabilities

Abstract

The FACE (Facilitating Adolescent Conversation Experiences) in tervention programme was designed to improve conversational skills for adolescents with learning disabilities. FACE uses videotape to present both model conversations and the students' conversations for identifica tion, analysis, and practice of basic communication strategies. A total of 16 subjects divided into four gender mixed groups, aged 15;2 to 17;6, participated in a semester-length FACE intervention. Seven controls with learning disability, aged 14;9 to 17;2, participated in pre- and post-intervention conversations. Analyses of pre- and post-intervention videotaped conversations with normally achieving confederate peers indicate that, unlike the controls, the subjects improved significantly in conversation skills.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alley, G. and Deshler, D. 1979: Teaching the learning disabled adolescent: strategies and methods. Denver: Love.

Berry, M. 1969: Language disorders in children: the basis and diagnosis . New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts .

Bierman, K.L. 1986: Process of change during social skills training with preadolescents and its relation to treatment outcome. Child Development 57, 230-240.

Bryan, T. and Bryan, J. 1978: Social interactions of learning disabled children. Learning Disability Quarterly 1, 33-38.

Bryan, T. , Donahue, M. , Pearl, R. and Sturm, C. 1981: Learning disabled children's conversational skills. Learning Disability Quarterly 4, 250-259.

Donahue, M. and Bryan, T. 1983: Conversational skills and modeling in learning disabled boys. Applied Psycholinguistics 4, 250-278.

Dunn, L. and Dunn, L. 1981: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Circle Pines, Minnesota: American Guidance Service.

Gerner, A. and Bryen, D. 1981: Language and learning disabilities. Baltimore: University Park Press.

Gibbs, D. and Cooper, E. 1989: Prevalence of communicative disorders in students with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities 22, 60-63.

10.

Hess, L. and Johnston, J. 1988: Acquisition of back channel listener responses to adequate messages. Discourse Processes 11, 319-336.

11.

Johnson, D. and Myklebust, H. 1967: Learning disabilities: educational principles and practices . New York: Grune and Stratton.

12.

LaGreca, A. and Mesibov, G.B. 1979: Social skills intervention with learning disabled children: selecting skills and implementing training. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 8, 234-241.

13.

— 1981: Facilitating interpersonal functioning with peers in learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities 14, 197-199; 238.

14.

McKinley, N. and Larson, V. 1985: Neglected language disordered adolescent: a delivery model . Language, Speech and Hearing Services in the Schools 16, 2-15.

15.

Semel-Mintz, E. and Wiig, E. 1982: Clinical evaluation of language functions. Columbus: Merrill.

16.

Thorum, A. 1980: The Fullerton language test for adolescents. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists Press.

17.

Wallach, G. and Butler, K. 1984: Language learning disabilities in school-age children . Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins .

18.

Wiig, E. and Semel, E. 1976: Language disabilities in children and adolescents. Columbus: Merrill.