Using Theory to Drive Intervention Efficacy: The Role of Dose Form in Interventions for Children with DLD

Abstract

‘Dose form’ is a construct that has evolved over the last number of years and is central to treating childhood language disorders. In this commentary, we present a framework of dose form that includes techniques, procedures, manner of instruction, and intervention context. We present key findings from a systematic review exploring the impact of intervention dose form on oral language outcomes (specifically morphosyntax and vocabulary learning) in children with DLD. We then discuss the hypothesized theoretical mechanisms of action underpinning these findings.

Keywords

• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
• intervention
• theories
• dose form
• children
• vocabulary