Early Word Combinations: Assessment and Therapy Goals

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Moving children from single words to word combinations is not just a matter of teaching two- and then three-word utterances. For young children with language delays in this period, the role of the SLP is to identify phrase/sentence types (i.e., content/form interactions or semantic relations) the child already produces and set new goals to expand the variety of types. In this course, we will discuss assessment in terms of gathering, categorizing, and analyzing early phrase/sentence data observed and elicited in the natural environment. A case study will illustrate how this process leads to choosing goals. Sample demonstration intervention concludes the course.

Meet your instructor

Susan H. Lederer PhD

Susan Hendler Lederer, Ph.D., CCC is a professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Adelphi University, Garden City, Long Island, NY. She is a NYS licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 35 years of clinical experience including 20 years of academic experience in the…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Development of Early Word Combinations

This chapter will detail milestones for the acquisition of 2-3 word/constituent combinations and discuss children with delays. At the end of this chapter, learners will understand how language develops from single words to phrases to short sentences and understand the nature of the language delay in this period.

2. Assessment: Gathering, Categorizing, Analyzing language sample data

While standardized tests are necessary for qualifying children for therapy, they do not provide sufficient data to plan therapy. In this chapter, we explore how to gather early phrase/sentence data (i.e., natural language sample, elicit, parent provided); categorize utterance data into early content/form interactions using a Bloom & Lahey approach; and conduct a qualitative analysis of what types of words combinations the child is producing, which is necessary to determine goals.

3. Intervention: Choosing goals and beginning therapy

In this chapter, we will discuss choosing content/form goals and specific targets within those categories. This course will conclude with a sample therapy session using a children’s picture book.

More courses in this series

First Words: Assessment and Speech Therapy Goals

Susan H. Lederer PhD