Neurological aspects of developmental disorders and multilingualism

This course deals with language-related difficulties such as developmental language disorders (DLD), as well as dyslexia and reading comprehension difficulties. Difficulties of a developmental nature, such as Williams syndrome and the autism spectrum, will be addressed. In addition, students will encounter the concept of bilingualism and multilingualism. The course will address what multilingualism entails, and what advantages and possible disadvantages growing up with several languages ​​can entail. This topic will primarily be dealt with as a starting point in children with typical language development, but the consequences that multilingualism can have in connection with language difficulties will also be discussed. After completing the course, the student must have developed an understanding of the causes of the most common language difficulties and knowledge of the main symptoms of such difficulties. They will have a basic knowledge of tools that are central to identifying and diagnosing a range of problems related to language difficulties, multilingualism, dyslexia and autism. Based on the course, students will be able to identify children with language problems, dyslexia and autism based on diagnostic criteria and common symptoms.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student will have a basic knowledge of issues and analytical perspectives related to:

- multilingual development, including hearing-impaired/cochlear-implanted children's language development

- language typological differences

- Norwegian as a second language

- language and reading difficulties in minority-language pupils

- mother tongue-based mapping of minority language pupils' language and communication

Skills

After completing the course, the student will have basic knowledge of a selection of translated and adapted mapping tests. In addition to gaining knowledge about the purpose and use of the tests, the student will gain insight into how to carry out scoring and assessment of the tests.

General competence

After completing the course, the student will be able to:

- Map and explain authentic test materials

Lectures and plenary discussions. The course has mandatory assignments. It is assumed that all students regularly use the current learning platform.