Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Childhood Intervention: Working with Infants, Toddlers, Families, and Other Care Providers

Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Childhood Intervention: Working with Infants, Toddlers, Families, and Other Care Providers presents practicing clinicians and graduate students with the skills necessary to provide evidence-based best practice services to young clients struggling to gain functional communication skills and their families. It also serves to broaden the understanding of early intervention within the field of speech-language pathology. Through research, real life scenarios, and practical documents the text presents positive advocacy for this population.

The text begins with a general overview of the history and rationale for early childhood intervention, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C program, and Early Head Start, as well as a description of the need for speech-language pathologists in early intervention. The majority of the text offers assessment and intervention strategies and tools, including specific tests and curricula, training resources, and the importance of using ongoing assessment for this young age. Strategies for coaching parents and collaborating with professional colleagues as well as working within daily routines in natural environments for the child - all integral components of the Part C early intervention program - are interwoven throughout. The text concludes with the importance of viewing children holistically - taking into consideration all aspects of a child's being and acknowledging the interrelatedness of their developing skills as well as the importance of family in their development.

Speech-language pathologists have a critical role in evaluation, assessment, and intervention for young children with or at risk for communication disorders. Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Childhood Intervention creates a pathway for investing in the principles and activities of early intervention that can lead to best practice and positive outcomes for this young population.

The text is supplemented by a PluralPlus companion website with downloadable worksheets from the text and PowerPoint slides for each chapter.

From the Foreword

"Early intervention is an investment in our future as many of the children we nurture and support in their first three years of life will become our future leaders and health care providers. For me, this is a critical investment in knowledge and resources. I am especially pleased to know that we have authors like Kathleen D. Ross who recognize the importance of knowledge investment in speech-language pathologists who have a critical role in the evaluation, assessment, and intervention for young children with or at risk for communication disorders. Speech-Language Pathologists in Early Childhood Intervention: Working with Infants, Toddlers, Families and Other Care Providers is a powerful tool to educate our speech-language pathologists on the value they add to a team of providers who will create learning success for our youngest population. Ross provides a logical sequence for supporting learning that can be immediately applied to early intervention practice.

Kathleen Ross does an exemplary job providing a meaningful text that creates a true pathway for investing in the principles and activities of early intervention that can lead to best practice and positive outcomes for our youngest population. We have a responsibility to be intentional about what we do and how we do it as speech-language pathologists and Ross' text gives us the tools to realize our intention to make a real difference in the care and support of infants, toddlers and their families."
—Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, Dean, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Professor, Pediatrics, Larner College of Medicine

Foreword by Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Preface
Acknowledgments
Reviewers

Section I. General Information about Early Childhood Intervention

Chapter 1. What is Early Childhood Intervention?
Chapter 2. From Referral to Individualized Family Service Plan Development: The 45-Day Process
Chapter 3. Working within Our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse World
Chapter 4. Visiting in Natural Environments
Chapter 5. Coaching Parents and Primary Caregivers
Chapter 6. Collaboration with Other Service Providers

Section II. Communication Assessment, Intervention, Collaboration, and Caseload

Chapter 7. Screening and Assessment Strategies: Standardized Assessment Tools
Chapter 8. Informal Communication-specific Assessment Tools: Evaluation and Ongoing Assessment
Chapter 9. Approaches to Intervention
Chapter 10. Overview of Children with Medically Complex, Articulation, and/or Hearing Issues
Chapter 11. Overview of Children with Language, Pragmatics, and/or Developmental Delays

Section III. The Essence of Early Intervention

Foreword by Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL
Preface
Acknowledgments
Reviewers

Section I. General Information about Early Childhood Intervention

Chapter 1. What is Early Childhood Intervention?
Chapter 2. From Referral to Individualized Family Service Plan Development: The 45-Day Process
Chapter 3. Working within Our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse World
Chapter 4. Visiting in Natural Environments
Chapter 5. Coaching Parents and Primary Caregivers
Chapter 6. Collaboration with Other Service Providers

Section II. Communication Assessment, Intervention, Collaboration, and Caseload

Chapter 7. Screening and Assessment Strategies: Standardized Assessment Tools
Chapter 8. Informal Communication-specific Assessment Tools: Evaluation and Ongoing Assessment
Chapter 9. Approaches to Intervention
Chapter 10. Overview of Children with Medically Complex, Articulation, and/or Hearing Issues
Chapter 11. Overview of Children with Language, Pragmatics, and/or Developmental Delays

Section III. The Essence of Early Intervention—Why EI Matters

Chapter 12. Working with the Whole Child
Chapter 13. Moving Forward: The Transition Process out of Part C
Chapter 14. Early Learning Guidelines
Chapter 15. Making Connections for a Healthy and Productive Future

Glossary
List of Frequently-Used Acronyms
Sections of IDEA Parts C and B Related to Early Intervention
Index

Why EI Matters

Chapter 12. Working with the Whole Child
Chapter 13. Moving Forward: The Transition Process out of Part C
Chapter 14. Early Learning Guidelines
Chapter 15. Making Connections for a Healthy and Productive Future

Glossary
List of Frequently-Used Acronyms
Sections of IDEA Parts C and B Related to Early Intervention
Index