Perspectives on Individual Differences Affecting Therapeutic Change in Communication Disorders

This volume examines the ramifications of individual differences in therapy outcomes for a wide variety of communication disorders. In an era where evidence-based practice is the clinical profession's watchword, each chapter attacks this highly relevant issue from a somewhat different perspective. In some areas of communication disorders, considering the variance brought by the client into the therapeutic 'mix' has a healthy history, whereas in others the notion of how individual client profiles mesh with therapy outcomes has rarely been considered. Through the use of research results, case study descriptions and speculation, the contributors have creatively woven what we know and what we have yet to substantiate into an interesting collection of summaries useful for therapy programming and designing clinical research.

Amy L. Weiss

R. Paul, Foreword. A.L. Weiss, Perspectives on Individual Differences Affecting Therapeutic Change in Communication Disorders: Prologue. B. Brinton, M. Fujiki, "The Social Stuff is Everything": How Social Differences in Development Impact Treatment for Children with Language Impairment. N. Capone, L. Sheng, Individual Differences in Word Learning: Implications for Clinical Practice. C.S. Hammer, B.L. Rodriguez, Individual Differences in Bilingual Children's Language Competencies: The Case for English and Spanish. J. Van der Woude, Perspectives in Individual Differences in Therapy for Preschool Children with Specific Language Impairment. L.S. Larrivee, E.S. Maloney, Individual Differences in Underlying Oral Language Competencies Associated with Learning to Read: Implications for Intervention. L.E. Hewitt, Individual Differences in Intervention Response in Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A.L. Weiss, Benefiting from Speech Therapy: The Role of Individual Differences in Treating Children with Speech Sound Disorders. K.L. Chapman, M.A. Hardin-Jones, Consideration of Individual Differences in Speech Development, Outcome, and Management: Children with Cleft Lip and Palate. T. Stewart, M.M. Leahy, Uniqueness and Individuality in Stuttering Therapy. R. Hayhow, R.C. Shenker, Individual Differences that Influence Responsiveness to the Lidcombe Program. H. Teagle, H. Eskridge, Predictors of Success for Children with Cochlear Implants: the Impact of Individual Differences. A.L. Weiss, Epilogue: How Focus on Individual Differences Informs our Clinical Practice for Individuals with Communication Disorders: A Summary and a Look Ahead.