Acknowledgments --;Series Editor's Note --;1 Introduction and Definition of Language --;Communication and language --;Definition of language --;2 Prelanguage --;Concepts --;Development of object recognition --;Situational understanding --;Development from situational understanding to symbolic understanding --;3 Normal Development of Verbal Language --;Early phrase patterns --;The first object labels --;Word combinations --;Noun-verb stage --;Stage of three or more concepts and simple sentences --;Use of past and future tenses --;Intellectual use of language --;4 Developmental Language Delays and Deviations --;Problems of attention and listening --;Developmental language delay --;Deviant language development --;Verbal language, peripheral --;5 Assessment of the Stages in Prelanguage Development --;Aims --;The starting-point --;Arrangement of room --;The stages in prelanguage development --;Assessment of symbolic understanding --;6 Assessment of the Stages in Verbal Language Development --;The first verbal label --;Selection of common objects in response to naming --;Word combinations --;Noun-verb stage --;Relating three or more 'operative' words, and use of simple sentences --;Assessment of higher levels of language understanding and use --;Conclusion --;7 Assessment of Difficult Children --;Very shy, withdrawn children --;Restless, hyperactive children --;Self-determined non-cooperating children --;Children with severe motor difficulties --;8 The Question of Referring Children for Ongoing Help --;Consideration of age --;Degree of language handicap --;Type of language handicap --;Conclusion --;9 Case Studies --;A deaf child: Mark --;A blind child: David --;A mentally handicapped child: Ruth --;A child with cerebral palsy: Karen --;A child with developmental language handicap: James --;Plotting progress --;10 Remedial Measures --;Theoretical basis --;The setting --;Assessments --;Results --;Relation to degree of handicap and associated handicaps --;Discussion and practical implications --;Conclusion --;Appendix I References --;Appendix II Reading List --;Appendix III Suggested List of Materials for Assessment.