Language and the developing child: Pivotal ideas of Katrina de Hirsch

Abstract

This paper considers the contributions of Katrina de Hirsch to the understanding of developmental language disabilities. It focuses on subjects that especially interested her: neurophysiological immaturity, the cluttering syndrome, the prediction of reading failure, intervention, and normal language development.

Effects on first-grade promotion practices of a program for the prevention of learning disabilities

“…Preventive approaches represent an attempt to close the gap between what children are when they come to school and what the educational system expects them to be. A variety of strategies have been implemented in preventive programs, with some emphasizing a broad range of cognitive and developmental factors (Bloom, 1980;Heber, 19781, adult-child interactions (Cowen, Lorion, Dorr, Clarfield, & Wilson, 1975;Shure & Spivack, 1979), health care (Leave11 & Clark, 1965Lessler, 1972), mental health variables (Albee & Joffe, 1977;Bower, 1972;Gresham & Nagle, 1980), and specific aspects of cognitive development (Bond & Dykstra, 1967;Jansky & de Hirsch, 1972). The strategies chosen by the individual investigators reflect the philosophical orientation, as well as the resources that are available to them.…”