Oral+Expression+Disability

ORAL EXPRESSION DISABILTY BY: JULIE CENTER 



Mary's Story Mary can understand language better than she can speak it. Sometimes she can say the correct sound but other times cannot. Mary has trouble imitating sounds however when she does try to imitate sounds it comes out clearer than her spontaneous speech. Mary has childhood speech apraxia.

Here is Molly and her mom. Listen to their story and see what signs to look for as your baby or toddler is beginnning to learn to talk.

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**What is oral expression disability? ** Oral expression is the ability to express ones thoughts, needs, wants and ideas using appropriate syntactic, pragmatic, semantic and phonological language structures. Oral expression is NOT reading aloud or reading fluently. To be certified as learning disabled in this area, the disability must adversely affect academic performance. If a deficit in oral expression does not affect academic performance the speech-language pathologist may better address the student’s needs.

**Prevalence ** Approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have trouble using their voices. 5% of School-Aged Population 52.4 % of All Students with Disabilities, Ages 6-21 Boys Outnumber Girls Four to One

**Student Characteristics ** Students may have trouble using or understanding the following areas of oral expression: · Syntax · Grammar · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Morphology · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pragmatics/social language · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Semantics · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Phonology <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students may have difficulty: · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sharing or retelling of stories · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Predicting/hypothesizing · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Expressing their opinions · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Stating main ideas or themes from stories and texts · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Communicating with peers during recess or in cooperative learning groups · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Asking questions in class · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Editing for grammar during oral language lessons

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How is this disability identified? Assessments ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">A 20-point split between the performance intelligence quotient and verbal intelligence quotient scores on the WISC IV with the performance being higher. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The student has significantly low standard scores on language tests. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Teacher observation and report that the student consistently demonstrates difficulty formulating age appropriate answers during classroom and small group discussions. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Teacher observation and report that the student does not participate in classroom and small group discussions consistently across all academic areas over time. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The student demonstrates their language deficit in written expression by scoring a standard score of 6 or below, which is the 9th%ile or below, on the Diagnostic Achievement Battery Written Vocabulary subtest OR scores at the 16th%ile or below on the Test of Early Written Language 2 · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Significant discrepancy on the WJIII Oral Expression Cluster

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How do these learners receive their education? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Decisions as to how instruction should be provided must be based on the individual needs of the child. Services must be provided in the least restrictive environment. The classroom teacher, special education teacher and the speech-language pathologist will all collaborate to develop oral expression goals and objectives.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What are best educational practices or strategies? **  · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Repeat sentences through strategies such as chunking · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Rephrase/retell · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Rhyme and use songs to remember classroom content · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Connect auditory information through visualization, mnemonics · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Provide frequent opportunities to practice syntax structures with peers and adults · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Daily oral language activities · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Sentence strips—words rearranged into correct order · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Grammar games such as //Build a Sentence// or //Making Sense with Syntax// · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Use graphic organizers to build vocabulary · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Buddy talk or pair-share strategies · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cue students to respond to greetings · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Have student provide a sequential retell to a story · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Teacher Read Alouds · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Take 30 seconds a day to engage them in authentic conversation

Here's an interesting technique to use with students that have apraxia. Check it out!

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**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Accommodations ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Consider that errors may be differences NOT disorders due to primary language structures · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Translate oral expressions into written form · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Give the child more time to formulate words/answers

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Inclusive Practices ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The classroom teacher, special education teacher and the speech-language pathologist will all collaborate to develop oral expression goals and objectives. The student should remain in the general classroom.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Special Challenges for General Education ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It can be very hard for the teacher or students to understand a child when they have a type of oral expression disability. Talking is one of the main ways of communicating wants and needs to your teacher and peers and when there is a breakdown in this skill that can affect the entire classroom. There are times when the teacher will have to ask the student to repeat himself and the teacher has to figure out the best way to do this without causing embarrassment to the child.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Accommodations: Assistive Technology ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Books on tape/cd · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Oral Placement Tools · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Picture communication system or sign language

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Are there any wraparound services? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Yes. There are advisory groups, after-school academic support and programs through health services.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Is this a school issue or life issue? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">This disability affects both areas but tends to have a greater impact in school as oral language provides the foundation for literacy development which ultimately leads to success in reading and writing. Communication skills are critical for overall success in school. At home most families know their children well enough that communication is not always necessary to convey thoughts, needs or wants. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How does this affect home? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">It’s important for the parents to continue support at home so the child is surrounded by consistency. If you know what your child is saying it is important to say it back to them so they can hear how it sounds correctly. It is important for the parents to do the follow-up activities at home to reinforce what the child is learning and doing in class and with the speech-language pathologist. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Individuals who have achieved greatness. **  · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Bruce Willis—(well known actor)had stuttering problems throughout his youth · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Tiger Woods—(famous professional golfer)had stuttering problems in childhood but got past it with hard work and practice · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Moses—was not an eloquent speaker according to the Bible · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Bill Walton—(professional basketball player)life long problem with speech and communication skills · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">John Melendez—(radio and television personality)life long stuttering problem

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What can you do to make a difference for the child? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Engage the student daily in authentic conversation! This is one of the most powerful interventions for developing oral language skills.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What can you do to support parents? ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Work as a team with the parents. Share and exchange successful strategies and ideas with the parents.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Resources ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Bernstein & Tiegerman. //Language and Communication Disorders in Children.// Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co. 1985. · [|**www.asha.org**]**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> (American Speech Language Hearing Association) ** · [|**www.interventioncentral.org**] · [|**www.interactivereadalouds.com**] · [|**www.classroomtoolkit.com/dol.html**]**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> (Daily Oral Language & other resources) ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Rhea Paul. //Language Disorders From a Developmental Perspective.// Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. 2007.   · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[] **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">See also the page on Speech and Language Impairment **