Intro: A Guide to Communication Sciences and Disorders

Several books on the general topic of introduction to communication disorders have been published between 2000 and 2009. Why then publish another one on this topic? The answer is that this new text satisfies the need for an introduction that is written with a welcoming and uniform style across chapters and that presents richly illustrated discussions that weave historical notes and contemporary discoveries into a cohesive account of the broad spectrum of communication disorders. Designed for beginning university-level students, this book provides essential information presented in a straightforward and engaging manner on a wide range of communication disorders found in children and adults. The author's experience in teaching an introductory class is evident in the book's student-friendly approach and its effective presentation of the core information in the field. The book is organized into four sections. Section 1 provides background information related to communication disorders. The chapters in this section cover the topics of communication science, the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology, and anatomy and physiology. Section 2 is concerned with developmental communication disorders, and includes chapters on child language disorders, child phonological disorders, and fluency disorders. Section 3 covers acquired communication disorders. The chapters in this section describe voice disorders, cleft lip and palate, neurogenic communication disorders, dysphagia, and genetic-based communication disorders. Section 4 addresses audition and contains chapters on hearing disorders and aural rehabilitation. Unique aspects of the book include the use of a recurring structure across chapters to assist beginning students to grasp new vocabulary and concepts while understanding the relationships among the different disorders. Each chapter also provides a focus on "past and present." Each disorder is introduced with a fascinating look at formative history, as well as up-to-date information concerning current theories and research. The book holds worldwide appeal and is written for an international audience. A portion of each chapter is dedicated to cultural aspects of communication disorders, as well as epidemiological information on communication disorders as found in English-speaking countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. Websites listed at the end of the chapters guide students to opportunities to learn more about each topic. Many of these websites provide links to streaming video examples. The sole authorship of the book ensures a balanced and uniform writing style that is missing from many introductory texts. INTRO is a clear and concise primer that delivers fundamental information about the variety of communication disorders that occur across the lifespan. For some, this information will serve as a springboard for pursuit of a professional career in audiology and speech-language pathology. But all readers will acquire an appreciation of the gift of communication that is so often taken for granted. Free to instructors, more than 200 PowerPoint slides conveniently divided into chapters for ease of use and chapter quizzes with answers.