No abstract

This study quantitatively describes the babbling of eight 1-year-old infants with cerebral palsy. Ninety-minute samples of vocalizations were analysed in terms of the well-formedness of the syllables and phonetic structure of canonical syllables. The onset of canonical babbling was delayed in most subjects, all had restricted phonetic repertoires and produced monosyllabic utterances only. The importance of the development of controlled expiration to drive the speech system for babbling is highlighted. The ® ndings challenge the robustness theories of babbling development, point to evidence of dysarthria in babbling, and justify early intervention. Methodological issues in the study of babbling are discussed, and suggestions for further research are o ered.

Orphanage life places children at risk of developmental delay, particularly with regard to speech and language acquisition. The aim of this study was to evaluate opportunities for children in an orphanage in South Africa to acquire communicative competence, by examining adultÁchild and childÁchild interactions and by evaluating the structure and resources of the environment. To meet this aim, the researchers familiarized themselves with the structure and daily functioning of the orphanage, and observed and videorecorded the caregivers and the children. A matrix-based analytic method was used to analyse the data. The analyses revealed chronic deprivation of developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for the acquisition of communicative competence. The caregivers did not use child-directed speech, and were unresponsive to the children as communicative partners. In addition, there was almost no child-to-child language use and almost every child was delayed in the development of communication skills. The environment was well equipped but the children did not interact with a variety of people and did not attend pre-school. Findings are discussed against the framework of the development of communicative competence in non-traditional developmental contexts. In addition, the suggestion is made that caregiverÁchild connectedness, which is fundamental to the development of communicative competence, could be enhanced by caregiver training in fundamental processes of caritas.

This article provides an overview of some of the important factors that impinge on people with cerebral palsy and their families, on medical and rehabilitation personnel, and on systems of healthcare and education in South Africa. Information is provided with regard to the national contextual variables that influence intervention in the country. The incidence of cerebral palsy is related to some of the more prominent aetiological variables including poverty, malaria, HIV/Aids and premature birth. Health care systems available for children with cerebral palsy are discussed, including the role of traditional healers. Access to education, training and care of children with cerebral palsy is described, including a brief history of specialized education in South Africa. An overview of the personnel, approaches and work contexts involved in rehabilitation highlights the unique nature of intervention in South Africa. The article concludes with recommendations for interventionists with reference to lessons that can be learned in terms of adapting skills and knowledge to local needs, in order to work successfully with children with cerebral palsy and to develop the resilience of their families. In addition, it is suggested that the definition of cerebral palsy needs to reflect the context in which the person lives.

The impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the clinical picture of children and their families is profound and guides many of the decisions that are made by health care professionals. Given this bleak scenario, a re-focus on the strengths of existing structures and the creation of new possibilities is suggested, as a positive and constructive approach to prevention, rehabilitation, and education.