Childhood Language Development

Children with speech, language, or listening problems can look forward to less frustration, self-doubt, and misplaced blame for their limitations if they are properly diagnosed and treated and if their family is informed and supportive. If you suspect or have been told that your child has as a speech, language, or listening problem, our course will give you a deeper understanding of the diagnoses and how to offer help for your child. Armed with knowledge, you are in a better position to help make your child’s life more fulfilling and far less challenging.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify the difference between early childhood speech, language, and listening problems
• Identify how children learn to communicate
• Recognize the need for early diagnosis and treatment of communication delays
• Name strategies used for specific communication delays
• Recognize terminology used in IDEA reports and how to translate the information into home strategies

Module 1 - Learning to Communicate and Speech Problems

Module 2 - Understanding Language Problems

Module 3 - Understanding Listening Problems

Module 4 - Causes of Delayed Development and Therapy That Works

Childhood Language Development Module 1

Learning to Communicate and Speech Problems

Children start on the road to successful communication as soon as they are born, but progress at different rates. Module one will look at the communication-learning process and what we can do to help children learn how to communicate. Module one will examine the most common type of speech and voice problems with an end goal of gaining a greater understanding of your child and their individual needs.

• What is Speech, Language, and Listening
• How Do Children Learn to Communicate
• Understanding Speech Problems
• Stuttering and Pronunciation Problems
• Common Voice Problems

Childhood Language Development Module 2

Understanding Language Problems

Module two will discuss the symptoms of and typical intervention for the most common language problems. We will look at how individual children are affected differently and what parents can do to help. Language problems are not at easily treated and some children will just not ever be great at conversation. However, module two will look at what improvements can be made with the right help.

• Toddlers and Preschoolers with Delayed Speech or Language
• Vocabulary Problems
• Morphological and Syntax Problems
• Word Retrieval Problem
• Social Language and Playing

Childhood Language Development Module 3

Understanding Listening Problems

A listening problem can have an impact on receptive language. In module three, we will look at the challenges faced by children with common listening problems. We review auditory processing disorders, and look at what parents can do to help children cope at home and in school.

• Auditory Processing Problem
• The Effects of a Language Processing Problem
• An Auditory Memory Problem
• Receptive Language Comprehension
• Therapy and Home Help

Childhood Language Development Module 4

Causes of Delayed Development and Therapy That Works

There isn’t a “textbook” profile of what causes delays in speech, language, and listening developments. Each child brings a set of special conditions that need addressed. Module four will look at many different causes of delayed development and will examine a variety of therapies that work for each. In this module, we will also look at how to support and encourage your child’s language development at home, in school, and in other environments.

• Abuse, Neglect and Congenital Conditions
• Cognitive Disabilities Neurobiological Disorders
• Autism, Social Behaviors, Cerebral Palsy
• Inclusion
• Therapies That Work

No prerequisites required.

All materials included in course.

Internet Connection

• Broadband or High-Speed - DSL, Cable, and Wireless Connections

*Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Classroom pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware Requirements

• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

PC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Windows 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2019 or higher. Also, you could use a general Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• QuickTime, Windows Media Player &/or Real Player

MAC Software Requirements

• Operating Systems - Mac OS version 11 or higher
• Mac office programs or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• The Amazon Kindle Reader App or VitalSource Bookshelf App are needed for many of our courses (No special equipment needed. This can be downloaded for FREE onto your computer.)
• PowerPoint Viewer (if you do not have PowerPoint)
• Adobe PDF Reader
• Apple QuickTime Media Player