In what ways have the interventions for children with speech and language disorders changed from the beginning of the twentieth century to today? How did the passage of P.L. 94-142 influence the interventions of speech and language services currently being practiced?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

During the 19th century instruction was characterized by the use of unproven treatments-for example, improving speech by placing rolls of linen under the tongue. Much early work was completed by medical specialists, but by the beginning of the twentieth century a new group of professionals called speech clinicians was emerging to address speech and language disorders. Most of the interventions these professionals provided for children with speech or language disorders took place in public schools, and the emphasis on speech-language therapy gradually shifted from the correct production of speech sounds to the broader overall ability to use language to communicate. P.L. 94-142 has influenced speech and language services to stress the role of communication. Professionals now acknowledge that not only is it important to recognize whether students can produce complete sentences using the correct tense, but it is also essential to think about what students are trying to express and to whom.