Customer Reviews

Language Disorders: A Functional Approach to Assessment and Intervention (4th Edition)

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Perhaps the biggest challenge facing speech language pathologists when working with their clients is getting them to generalize the newly-learned language targets to novel contexts. After all, what good is speech-language therapy if the client does not use the skills outside of the therapy room?

Dr. Owens' book, Language Disorders: A Functional Approach to Assessment and Intervention, addresses this issue in great depth. The book shows how a conversationally-based, client-centered approach to assessment and intervention will greatly increase the likelihood of generalization. It also shows how the traditional approach of teaching language targets separately and out of context may not be the best method to achieve generalization. The book stresses, rather, to assess and train language where it will be used: in conversation. Owens also discusses at length the assessment and intervention of culturally and linguistically diverse children.

One major point made in the book early-on regarding intervention is the idea of making a plan for generalization when picking language targets, before therapy begins. So often SLPs make the mistake of addressing generalization toward the end of intervention, resulting in the SLP choosing inappropriate targets and/or the client showing a lack of carryover to novel contexts.

Owens also includes numerous guidelines and procedures that could be especially helpful for the school-based clinician. The appendices in the book are exceptional. Most impressive is Owens' extensive index of preschool literature, complete with suggested targets for remediation for each story. Also, a detailed table of language targets accompanied by functional activities for each is provided. This book is a valuable tool for anyone who works with individuals with language disorders or language differences.

This is the worst textbook I have ever read, and I've been taking classes in a variety of subjects for the past 15 years. There are countless spelling errors, atrocious grammatical mistakes, references to tables that do not exist in the book, and a seemingly endless supply of redundant anecdotes. There is very little logical structure, making it extremely difficult to tell that there are, in fact, some very good ideas about clinical assessment and intervention hidden beneath all the poor writing. If only someone had read the book before it was published.

My current favorite mistake: "It's a bicycle; you ride on it by peddling."

I'm sorry if you have any love for the English language and are required to read this book. I'll be done with it after tomorrow, and it will take all of my remaining strength to sell it for the benefit of some other poor slob (and the environment) rather than burn it page by page as it deserves.

Robert E. Owens, Jr., you should be ashamed of yourself. I only hope this is not the language you're teaching those poor children with LI.

Amazon, your service is wonderful. Thank you.

The functional approach to language intervention is great, but Pearson obviously didn't have anyone proofread this before it went to print. Mistake after mistake including spelling errors, punctuation errors and the worst: barely intelligible sentences that leave me agonizing to figure out what Owens is trying to say. This is the kind of book that makes me think I should go into editing. Seriously Pearson, send me your books and I'll give you a deal for the service. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK NEW. We do not need to encourage further printing of this garbage. Pearson: please make the effort to put out a good product before charging exorbitant amounts for it.

I'm a SLP major and have read a few of Robert Owens's books. They are all drawn out and tedious to read. Obviously, it's an educational book, so I'm not expecting to be exciting. But, he could have made the book more concise and easy to read.

I don't experience this problem with other authors either.

This book matched the descripting very well. The book was shipped in a timely manner. Overall, great service.

It's a textbook, so it's not like it's all fun and games, but it is educational from what I've read. I needed this book for a class in college, and it was impossible to find any where else near-by. Was pleased with the fast shipping and the quality of care.