Language, the hallmark of humanity.

Language, a silver stream of sounds.

Language, spoken, read, and written-a complex phenomenon.

Language, its acquisition, development, and disorders-a fascinating field of inquiry!1 - Katharine G. Butler, 1980

When Katharine G. Butler (Kay, to many of us) founded the journal, Topics in Language Disorders (TLD) in 1980, she envisioned it as a way to promote shared knowledge and communication about language disorders that crossed many boundaries-boundaries that separated disciplines, cultural-linguistic communities, nations, researchers and practitioners, spoken and written language, and people interested in varied life stages, to name a few. Kay continued in the role of editor-in-chief for the next 25 years, assisted by an outstanding succession of issue editors. In 2005, I joined her in the role of editor and gradually began to assume more of the duties as she slipped further into the dim reaches of Alzheimer's dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a nasty one. It has stolen most of Kay's language and communicating ability, but it cannot steal her history, her exceptional contributions to revealing relationships between theory and practice, and her intellectual leadership that pulled together people from across disciplines for many decades. Some say that it was Kay who played the lead role in putting the "L" in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, speech-language pathology, and language learning disabilities.

In her opening comments to the first issue of TLD in 1980, Kay wrote, "There has long been a need among professionals interested in language, its comprehension and expression, for a truly interdisciplinary journal" (p. vii). Later in that inaugural column, she emphasized the role of translating research to practice across the age span when she wrote, "It is my hope that this journal will make a unique contribution in that it will be read and used by practicing professionals across disciplines involved in the remediation or rehabilitation of children and adults with language-based disorders" (p. vii). This is a reminder that, since 1980, the journal's topical issues have touched on all types of language difficulties, the varied populations that experience them, and individuals affected across the age span.

As stewards of the journal's mission, the editorial board and I strive to keep the journal relevant to our diverse readership. In this day of shrinking personal subscriptions to any journal, we are heartened that TLD significantly increased its impact factor last year, providing objective evidence that the journal is read and cited by an ever wider audience of language specialists who are contributing to the knowledge base. Keeping TLD on the cutting edge of research while also making it relevant to the needs of practitioners, however, can be a particular challenge in an age of increasing specialization for both researchers and practitioners.

We pay attention to input from our readers, in the form of both quantitative data from our publisher, Wolters-Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, and qualitative feedback shared with publisher representatives at professional conferences. As the current issue editor, Leora Cherney, planned and worked on this issue on "Recent Advances in Aphasia Treatment," I thought back frequently to a message passed on to me by a publisher's representative who told me that a person had stopped by the booth and told him, "I love your journal, but I wish there were more topics about adults." That comment led me to work more actively to seek issue editors who could respond to that need. I am so glad that Dr. Cherney said "yes" to my invitation to plan an issue on recent advances in treating aphasia in adults. It warmed my heart further when I returned to Kay's inaugural From the Editor column while preparing to write this one. It was remarkable to me how perfectly the current issue and issue editor fit Kay's earlier visionary thinking. In 1980, she described that vision as follows:

Topics in Language Disorders will have a guest editor for each issue, an editor whose background and knowledge are of pivotal importance to the selected topic. Differing points of view will be encouraged by inviting respected authors representing various positions to discuss an issue or a concern and its relevance to the delivery of services. (p. vii)

I cannot imagine a better fit for this description than Leora Cherney and the issue she planned. Dr. Cherney and her authors span multiple points of view about aphasia treatment approaches, and their work represents diverse theoretical models. Yet, all of them have something special to offer.

If you consider yourself a child language specialist, as I do, you might be tempted to let this issue on adult aphasia fall onto your corner guilt pile of unread journals. If so, you should rethink that choice. This issue on aphasia in adults should be of interest to TLD's wide range of readers, even (and perhaps especially) those who specialize in pediatric populations. By reading these articles carefully, I guarantee that you will experience moments, as I did, in which you are triggered to have fresh thoughts about the theoretical perspectives that drive your own work in studying or providing language/literacy treatments for children and adolescents with developmental language disorders. Of course, those of you who work with adults with acquired language disorders will find immediate relevance with minimal translation. Consider a few examples of how this issue triggered aha moments for me.

The first two articles review treatments that are aimed directly at the core impairments that characterize aphasia. When reading Kendall and Nadeau's (2016) article, who base their phonomotor treatment on the phonological representations of words in language, I kept thinking of theoretical explanations of oral-written language disorders and dyslexia that address the phonological and nonphonological components of language (e.g., Bishop & Snowling, 2004; Catts, Adlof, Hogan, & Ellis Weismer, 2005). When reading Edmonds' (2016) description of the Verb Network Strengthening Treatment approach, I kept thinking of how semantic roles are likely illuminated through syntactically structured propositions and how learning to comprehend and formulate language, both orally and in writing, revolves around sentences in which verbs fill a commanding role. While reading the article on script templates by Kaye and Cherney (2016), I kept thinking of a particular 2-year-old in my life and his growing repertoire of scripted phrases as well as single words he uses to participate in ever-expanding joint action routines (e.g., What's this? I want X, and, when his baby brother cries, It fine, you 'kay, you 'kay). When reading Elman's (2016) historical account of Life Participation Approach to Aphasia, and her introduction to Aphasia Centers, I kept thinking of similar challenges and goals that drove my colleagues and me over our careers to increase opportunities for children and adolescents with language disorders and with complex communication needs to participate fully in classrooms (e.g., Nelson, Bahr, & Van Meter, 2004; Sturm, 2015). Finally, while reading the article by Babbitt, Worrall, and Cherney (2016) on the question of "Who Benefits From an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP)?" I was reminded of the importance of seeking evidence to guide us in individualizing service delivery and avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches regardless of treatment population or setting.

These moments of insight were, of course, embedded within my appreciation for recent advances in aphasia treatment, the true central topic of this issue, which comes through clearly and with rich variety. I use my aha moments simply to highlight a few of the components that make these articles fascinating and a thought-provoking read regardless of one's clinical population of primary interest. I am sure you will find your own aha moments and will agree that these articles jog us to think beyond what we already know, just as Kay Butler originally imagined for the journal she founded.

-Nickola Wolf Nelson, PhD

Editor-in-Chief

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