Language is indispensable for one's experience of the world, yet countless children, adolescents, and adults struggle with linguistic processing. The discrete trial training (DTT) principle of applied behavior analysis (ABA) will be familiar to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and other professionals who work with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Yet, Cheslow takes DTT a step further by applying it to language disorders such as receptive and expressive language deficits. During her years of clinical practice, Cheslow recognized the pressing need for an actionable, effective, and customizable methodology for language disordered clients. The result of much trial and error (including language therapy sessions with the author's own daughter) is this highly recommended guidebook.

Although this book was designed to teach clinicians how to break down and teach each individual step of a skillset, parents of language disordered children may also find it to be useful. This book organizes language macroskills, each with their own set of supporting skills or objectives. As with DTT for autism therapy, the author presents a systematic approach to teaching the most basic components of a skill. She explains her methodology with laser-like precision as it pertains to skill areas such as pragmatic language skills, phonological awareness, expressive language skills, and many others. There are plenty of sample teaching activities for SLPs to bring to their practices. The author also includes straightforward guidance on cognitive processing in its many forms–an understanding of which is essential for a solid groundwork for therapy. In particular, SLPs are likely to find the author's discussions of the language disordered adolescent to be invaluable, given that much of the previously available material is geared toward therapies for younger clients.

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