Doc: Untar PR – VH
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a condition in which a person has difficulty in understanding and using language effectively without any underlying physical disorder. This condition can affect various basic language skills, such as reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Often seen in children, impaired language development can have an impact on the child’s social and emotional problems. It can also affect the cognitive mechanisms for language development, such as attention, memory and self-control. Therefore, neuropsychology has an important role in helping to understand the problems faced.
This was explained by Prof. Constance T.W.M. Vissers when providing material for an international webinar.
This activity is the result of a collaboration between the Untar Faculty of Psychology (FPsi) and Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands which took place online, Friday (9/27/2024).
With the theme “An Introduction to a Neuropsychological Perspective on Developmental Language Disorder”, this initiative between the two universities presented professors and lecturers from Radboud University as speakers.
The discussion material presented by Prof. Constance focused on “Introduction to the Neuropsychological Perspective on Communication Disabilities”.
She explained that the neuropsychological model shows that children’s behavior will reflect brain function. This allows the formation of certain cognitive abilities because they act as intermediaries between actions and brain functions, including information processing and behavior control.
Research on cognitive function can provide insights into how the brain works in relation to thinking and acting. Thus, differences in the nature and severity of each child with DLD can be influenced by environmental factors, such as diversity in quality of life, experiences, and social and emotional problems faced. In addition, genetic factors also have a major influence on DLD.
Furthermore, Prof. Constance emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treating DLD. In-depth longitudinal research helps us understand the impact of early disruptions in language development on children’s future development.
The webinar also invited other speakers with their own topics. “Inner Speech in Children with Developmental Language Disorder” presented by Thomas Camminga, Ph.D. (Cand), ‘Executive Functioning and Narrative Ability in Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)’ by Lonneke Janssen, Ph.D. (Cand), and Resilience, Adverse Childhood Experiences in Deafness or Hard of Hearing (DHH) by Len Martijn, Ph.D. (Cand).
Being part of a series of collaborations between FPsi Untar and several campuses in Indonesia, Dean of FPsi Untar Sri Tiatri, Ph.D., Psychologist, hopes that the webinar, which was attended by more than 300 students and lecturers, can provide experience and insight for the audience. (CS/YS/KJ)