Main description:

Comprehensive yet compact and user-friendly, the fourth edition of Introduction to Communication Disorders takes a unique lifespan perspective that enables students to focus both on disorders and also on how these disorders impact on the lives of individuals. Through case studies, technical illustrations, best practices boxes, and other features, each chapter describes a specific disorder, related assessment, and applicable intervention methods -- all with a foundation in evidence-based practices. More than a simple catalog of communication disorders, this relaxed and readable introductory text illustrates each chapter with a detailed case study. In addition, the new and completely revised fourth edition of this book has been updated to include new features, new research, and new material. New to this Edition: *The addition of evidence-based practice (EBP) throughout the text provides students with the most effective and efficient assessment and intervention practices possible. *Research updates and revisions throughout the text, including over 400 new and relevant research studies, keeps the book current and relevant in an ever-changing field.
*Best practices boxes in each chapter cover the ideal assessment and intervention process for each disorder discussed and offer students a quick and easy-to-read reference. *Website references in each chapter allow readers to further explore topics relating to communication disorders on the Internet. *New diagrams and figures illustrate the locations of various disorders, especially those with a neurological basis. *New communication disorders have been added, including childhood motor speech disorders and other language disorders, making the text more comprehensive. *A redesigned companion website is now more user-friendly and better helps students learn the material included in the text and explore additional websites of interest.

Contents:

Preface 1. A Journey: From Student to Professional Helping Others to Help Themselves Service Through the Lifespan Communication Disorders in Historical Perspective 2. Typical and Disordered Communication Human Communication Communication Through the Lifespan Communication Impairments 3. Anatomy and Physiology Related to Speech, Hearing, and Language The Physiological Subsystems Supporting Speech The Speech Production Process 4. Assessment and Intervention Differences, Dialects, Disorders Is There a Problem? Defining the Problem Intervention with Communication Disorders 5. Childhood Language Impairments Language Development Through the Lifespan Association Disorders and Related Causes Aspects of Language Affected Assessment Intervention 6. Developmental Literacy Impairments Reading Writing 7. Adult Language Impairments Language Development Through the Lifespan Aphasia Right Hemisphere Damage Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Dementia 8. Fluency Disorders Fluent Speech Versus Stuttering The Onset and Development of Stuttering Through the Lifespan Therapeutic Techniques Used with Young Children Therapeutic Techniques Used with Older Children and Adults Who Stutter The Effectiveness of Stuttering Intervention Through the Lifespan 9. The Voice and Voice Disorders Pitch and the Pitch-Changing Mechanism Vocal Loudness and the Loudness-Changing Mechanism The Voice Evaluation and Intervention Efficacy of Voice Therapy 10. Disorders of Articulation and Phonology Understanding Speech Sounds Speech-Sound Development Through the Lifespan Associated Disorders and Related Causes Language and Dialectal Variations Intervention 11. Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Physical Challenges of Clefts Through the Lifespan Development of the Face and Palate Cleft Lip and Palate Classification Systems Clinical Features of Clefts Etiologics of Clefts Incidence of Clefts Communication Problems Associated with Clefts 12. Neurogenic Speech Disorders Causes of Neurogenic Speech Disorders The Dysarthrias Apraxia of Speech 13. Disorders of Swallowing Lifespan Perspectives The Swallowing Process Disordered Swallowing Evaluation for Swallowing Dysphagia Intervention and Treatment Prognoses and Outcomes for Swallowing Disorders 14. Audiology and Hearing Losee Incidence and Prevalence of Hearing Loss Hearing Loss Through the Lifespan What Is Audiology? Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System Types of Hearing Loss Degrees of Hearing Loss Audiological Assessment Procedures Aural (Audiological) Habilitation/Rehabilitation 15. Augmentative and Alternative Communication Types of AAC Speech and AAC Intervention Considerations Appendix A: Requirements for Becoming an Audiologist Appendix B: Requirements for Becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist Glossary References Author Index Subject Index