STATEN ISLAND DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER THERAPY

A developmental language disorder is a lifelong condition that cannot be cured. However, with the help of a licensed speech-language pathologist, a child can learn strategies and techniques to manage the condition.

After a child is diagnosed with a DLD, the licensed speech-language pathologist will conduct further analysis and observations before creating an individualized program. The methods and strategies can vary from child to child, depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Eliciting, modeling, and scaffolding target linguistic features through specific modalities, e.g., expressive, listening, reading, and writing,  is how a licensed language therapists/pathologists model, teach, and reinforce aspects of language that need addressing, such as sounds, vocabulary, grammatical structures, and social use. To support language growth and literacy skills, tools like Membean, Flocabulary, InferCabulary, Scribo, and ReadWorks offer engaging, tailored approaches that strengthen vocabulary and writing through interactive videos, personalized exercises, AI feedback, and visual learning aids for K-12 students.

Membean provides personalized, differentiated vocabulary instruction for grades 6+. It uses spaced learning instead of blocked learning, focuses on retrieval practices over encoding, and prioritizes higher-order thinking over simple memorization to achieve lasting outcomes.

Flocabulary is an educational platform that uses engaging hip-hop videos and standards-aligned, video-based lessons to support vocabulary acquisition and language comprehension across various K-12 subjects.

InferCabulary is a visual vocabulary tool that uses images and contextual clues to help K-12 students build word comprehension and critical thinking skills through an evidence-based, inductive approach to learning.

Scribo empowers students to improve their writing skills by providing real-time, personalized feedback that guides them through the writing process. Using advanced AI, Scribo helps students identify areas to strengthen, like grammar, structure, and clarity, while also offering suggestions to enhance their expression. Designed to simplify learning, Scribo encourages students to engage more deeply with their writing, building confidence and helping them grow as writers across all levels. 

The Interactive Vocabulary Activities in ReadWorks, developed with Wordsmyth, provide a dynamic and engaging approach for students to deepen their understanding of essential vocabulary. Students interact with vocabulary in multiple reinforcing ways by exploring sound-spelling patterns, parts of speech in context, and word meanings within word families and networks. The ungraded and self-correcting activities foster a pressure-free environment that encourages exploration and repeated exposure.

In younger children, language interventions and language therapy are typically interwoven into natural communication, such as conversation and play! For older children, interventions are typically embedded in the school curriculum or literacy activities. It is also essential to have parents and teachers involved in the process, as learning must happen outside of the language therapy sessions! Progress depends on meeting consistent treatment goals.  Read about the validity of an online oral narrative task (2023 study). The assessment task was developed to monitor children’s oral language progress in their first year at school as part of the Better Start Literacy Approach for early literacy teaching.

Listen to this podcast by Dorothy Bishop, Professor of Developmental Neuropsychology, about developmental language disorder (history, advocacy, terminology, co-morbidities, and so much more!), including its impact on multilingual children, and the challenges of communication difficulties in diverse language environments.