Williams Syndrome (WS), aka Williams Beuren Syndrome, is a developmental disorder that we have known about for some forty years. The cause for WS was detected only recently: a micro deletion on chromosome 7, more specifically at the region of chromosome 7q11.23. The cognitive and behavioral profile in WS is characterized by a marked discrepancy between verbal and non-verbal skills combined with relatively spared linguistic skills. Recent research has shown considerable progress defining the areas of intactness in linguistic abilities. This volume builds on that research, giving an overview of the psycholinguistic research undertaken and opening up new perspectives and insights through new data and analyses. This book is of interest to researchers of applied cognitive science and to linguists more occupied with theoretical research.

This volume presents a set of ten carefully designed experimental studies which aim to investigate the nature of different aspects of linguistic abilities and their relative impairments in Hungarian speaking individuals with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetically-based developmental disorder that has in recent years become the focus of great deal of attention in the cognitive and brain sciences. The central theoretical interest in studying Williams Syndrome has to do with the fact that it presents a rare and intriguing profile of apparent dissociation between a surprisingly spared linguistic competence on the one hand, and relatively severe deficits in a range of other cognitive domainsespecially in spatial cognition and motor skillson the other, together with mild to moderate mental retardation. This provides an intriguing testing ground for such central questions of current cognitive science as whether the language faculty is modular or not, how language and cognition are interfaced

Updated and expanded to 124 entries, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Child Development remains the authoritative reference in the field.

Comprehensive and readable, Understanding Williams Syndrome: Behavioral Patterns and Interventions is an essential guide for all those professionally, scientifically, or personally involved with this so frequently misunderstood and underserved population--psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health professionals; special educators and vocational counselors; speech-language, physical, and occupational therapists; audiologists; physicians; and parents. In the last 20 years, Williams syndrome has captured the interest of large numbers of scientists and attracted considerable media attention in spite of its rarity (estimated at no more than one in 30,000 births). Those diagnosed display a unique pattern of behavioral, cognitive, and physical limitations and strengths with fascinating neurogenetic implications--a pattern that poses enormous challenges to their parents and caregivers. The authors, a specialist in learning disabilities and a developmental psychologist, review basic information about Williams syndrome, its medical conditions, paradoxical profile, and neurobiological mechanisms; and discuss distinctive features of the language and perceptual and motor performance of children and adults with the syndrome. Other features include: * Strategies for working with patients. * An examination of the difference between Williams syndrome and other developmental disorders. * Problem-specific alternatives for treatment. * Analysis of new directions in research, clinical intervention, education, and systems for care delivery. Throughout, they stress variations among individuals and subgroups in ability level, skills, talents, and problem severity; and emphasize the necessity of recognizing these components in planning treatment on an individual basis.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent chronic diseases affecting children and adolescents. The number of young children being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is increasing worldwide and an epidemic of type 2 diabetes already at a young age is being

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a genetic condition characterized by low IQ, cardiovascular malformations, dysmorphic facial features, and a striking pattern of behaviors, weaknesses, and strengths, such as musical and verbal abilities, extraordinary friendliness, empathy, and social grace. Because the typical psychological and cognitive profile is unique, examination of this syndrome sheds light on how the human brain is organized and how different aspects of cognition and behavior arise. Williams-Beuren Syndrome offers concise, comprehensive coverage of WBS research and its clinical implications, including its genetics and molecular biology, neurobiological and behavioral traits, and medical problems and their management. Each chapter emphasizes how research can be applied to clinical practice. The expertise of the volume editors ranges from pioneering research to personal experience: Colleen Morris played a key role in the breakthrough discovery of the missing elastin gene in patients with WBS; Howard Lenhoff is a biologist, an expert on WBS and musical pitch, and the parent of a WBS musical savant; Paul Wang is a pediatrician and cognitive researcher who works in the WBS community. Researchers and clinicians in genetics, pediatrics, and psychiatry/psychology will find in this volume a wealth of current information on WBS, as well as valuable insights into future research possibilities.

The Handbook of Speech and Language Disorders presents a comprehensive survey of the latest research in communication disorders. Contributions from leading experts explore current issues, landmark studies, and the main topics in the field, and include relevant information on analytical methods and assessment. A series of foundational chapters covers a variety of important general principles irrespective of specific disorders. These chapters focus on such topics as classification, diversity considerations, intelligibility, the impact of genetic syndromes, and principles of assessment and intervention. Other chapters cover a wide range of language, speech, and cognitive/intellectual disorders.

The chapters in this volume arise from presentations at a unique conference on typical and atypical language development held in Madison, USA in 2002. This joint meeting of the International Association for the Study of Child Language, and the Symposium for Research in Child Language Disorders brought together – for the first time in such large numbers – researchers from these two distinct but related fields. The week-long schedule of the conference allowed for an in-depth interrogation of their theoretical positions, methodologies and findings. In the contributions to this volume we have put together a carefully selected set of papers which from various perspectives explore the linkage between developmental theory and language impairment, and at the same time illustrate the effects of distinct conditions – hearing loss, autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome and specific language impairment – on the communication abilities of affected individuals. An introductory chapter, and a detailed summary which picks up recurring themes in the chapters, complete the volume.

This book presents a range of ongoing studies on atypical language development in Romance languages. Despite the steady increase in the number of studies on typical language development, there is still little research about atypical language development, especially in Romance languages. This book covers four main conditions causing atypical language development. Part I explores the linguistic and communicative characteristics of preterm children learning Romance languages. The focus of Part II centers on children with Specific Language Impairment. Hearing Loss in Part III is another relevant factor leading to atypical language development. The final part IV zeroes in on genetic syndromes coupled to cognitive impairment with special attention to language development. This book presents a much needed overview of the most recent findings in all relevant fields dealing with atypical language development in children speaking Romance languages.