ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on children with communication disorders. Communication, language, and speech are three separate yet related processes. Language is divided into two main areas: receptive and expressive. Communication disorders occur due to problems in the neurological processes used for cognition and/or issues in one or more components of hearing, speech, or language. Diagnosis of speech and/or language disorders is done by a professional clinician such as a speech and language pathologist. All children would benefit from an early childhood education approach that promotes language development. Strategies to enhance receptive and expressive language development include indirect and direct language stimulation and modeling techniques. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems utilize a child’s ability along with technology to support children with language and communication disorders to communicate with others and participate in school, home, and community activities.
