A critical review of the literature on written expression disorders of
individuals with learning disabilities. The purpose of the book is to
shed light on issues concerning definition, assessment and interaction
for individuals with writing disorders. The integrated model of written
expression offered draws on the work of cognitive psychology,
neurolinguistics and sociolinguistics. The model illustrates the
interrelationship between cognitive and affective processing networks
that influence the selection and use of linguistics and information
structures in producing a written text.
Particularly noteworthy aspects of this book are: the emphasis on the
role of writing in developing higher mental functions (other texts on
writing disorders have placed greater emphasis on lower-order aspects);
not only the addition and integration of the sociolinguistic dimension
into the model of writing but also the inclusion of guidelines for
assessing this dimension; specification of needed research in which both
populations and tasks have been carefully defined; and, finally, notice
of the importance of a continuum for defining, assessing and treating
each component of written expression.
This state-of-the-art work on disorders of writing is of interest to
both researchers and clinicians concerned with written expression
disorders in children and/or adults.