Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

For a child with pragmatic difficulties, which intervention goal would best address her needs regarding presupposition skills?

1. Utilize gestures in conversation

2. Understand different perspectives in communication

3. Modify communicative attempts based on partner needs

4. Understand expectations of conversational partners

The correct answer is: Modify communicative attempts based on partner needs

The focus on modifying communicative attempts based on partner needs is crucial for addressing presupposition skills in a child with pragmatic difficulties. Presupposition refers to the assumptions that speakers and listeners make about what is known or shared knowledge in a conversation. By emphasizing the need to adapt communication based on what a conversation partner does or does not know, the child learns to communicate more effectively and appropriately in social interactions. This goal supports the development of more nuanced communication strategies, fostering an awareness of the listener's perspective. It helps the child recognize that different partners may require different levels of information or context to understand the conversation fully. This is foundational for improving their pragmatic language skills, as effective communication is contingent upon considering and responding to the knowledge and needs of others during interactions. In contrast, while understanding different perspectives (the second choice) is also beneficial, modifying communicative attempts directly allows for practical application of this understanding, resulting in more immediate improvements in conversational interactions.