Developmental Language Disorders

In the past decade, there has been an explosion of research on the neurological basis of developmental disorders and the application of this research to the learning process. However, to date, much of this information has been presented at a level that is beyond most students and many clinicians. Williams' new book is deliberately targeted at the clinician and student, and is grounded in the belief that the most effective intervention for developmental disorders is based on an understanding of the underlying neurobiology and neurofunctional basis of the disorder - in a clear and accessible form. Here, she focuses on the current knowledge base, neurological development (prenatal, through childhood, to young adulthood), neuroimaging techniques, research on the neurological basis of developmental language disorders, autism, reading (dyslexia), and genetic conditions associated with mental retardation. Most importantly, she focuses on what is currently known about the effects of the environment on brain organization and learning, and the translation of neurological findings to the design of intervention for disordered language.