Language development is a cornerstone of human communication, yet the processes through which individuals acquire and use language can vary significantly, especially in populations with special needs. This symposium is dedicated to exploring the language development of Chinese-speaking individuals with atypical developmental trajectories, including those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder, hearing impairment, and other developmental challenges. By addressing the unique linguistic, cognitive, and social hurdles faced by this population, this symposium aims to advance understanding, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and promote effective interventions tailored to diverse contexts.
The symposium will examine how language development unfolds across the lifespan in Chinese-speaking individuals with special needs. It will bring together leading scholars, researchers, and practitioners to share their latest findings and insights in the following areas:
This event is open to researchers, educators, clinicians, policymakers, and the public. We warmly invite anyone interested to attend, engage in discussions, and contribute to the exchange of ideas on current theoretical and practical issues in language development among Chinese-speaking populations with special needs.
Date: 1-2 August 2025
Venue: D0309, Jockey Club Campus, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Registration: (Free Admission) Please click here or scan the QR Code below
Please click here to download the PDF of Programme Rundown |
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1 August, 2025 | Venue: D0309, Jockey Club Campus, HKMU |
Time | Sections |
9:00 – 9:20 | Opening and Photo-taking |
9:20 – 10:00 | Prof. Hin Tat CHEUNG Asia University Assessing Productive Syntax in Mandarin-Speaking Children |
10:00 – 10:40 | Prof. Zhuoming CHEN Jinan University & The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University TBC |
10:40 – 11:00 | Coffee Break |
11:00 – 11:40 | Prof. Li SHENG The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Identifying Developmental Language Disorder in Mandarin-Speaking Children: A Muliti-phase Muliti-Method Study |
11:40 – 12:20 | Prof. Caicai ZHANG The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The Neurocognitive Bases of Developmental Language Disorders: Combining Theory-driven and Machine Learning Approaches |
12:20 – 14:20 | Lunch Time |
14:20 – 15:00 | Prof. Zhaoli MENG West China Hospital, Sichuan University Study on the Characteristics of Auditory Processing, Cognition and Behavior in School-age Children with slight-mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss |
15:00 – 15:40 | Prof. Ping TANG Nanjing University of Science and Technology The Acquisition of Mandarin Tone and Intonation by Children with Cochlear Implants |
15:40 – 16:20 | Prof. Qun LI West China Hospital, Sichuan University Perception and Production of Voice Onset Time by Mandarin-speaking Children with Cochlear Implants |
16:20 – 16:40 | Coffee Break |
16:40 – 17:20 | Prof. Shuo LU Shenzhen University Brain Network Development and Its Prediction on Speech Performance in Children with Cochlear Impants |
17:20 – 18:00 | Prof. Virginia YIP Chinese University of Hong Kong Bilingual Advantages in Typically and Atypically Developing Children |
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2 August, 2025 | Venue: D0309, Jockey Club Campus, HKMU |
Time | Sections |
9:30 – 10:10 | Prof. Yi SU Central South University Online Processing of Grammatical Structures in Preschool Mandarin-exposed Autistic Children |
10:10 – 10:50 | Prof. Xin KANG Chongqing University Predictive Language Processing by Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders |
10:50 – 11:10 | Coffee Break |
11:10 – 11:50 | Dr. Haoyan GE Hong Kong Metropolitan University Can we speak two languages to autistic children? Evidence from Cantonese-English Bilingual Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder |
11:50 – 12:30 | Prof. Bin LI City University of Hong Kong From Perceptual Biases to Articulatory Dynamics: Research-Informed Phonetic Strategies for Investigating and Rehabilitating Speech Disorders |
12:30 – 14:30 | Lunch Time |
14:30 – 15:10 | Prof. Fang LIU University of Reading Music and Language Processing in Mandarin-speaking Autistic Children: Implications for Language Development |
15:10 – 15:50 | Prof. Wen MA Shandong University Clinical Conversation Analysis in Childhood Communication Disorders |
15:50 – 16:10 | Coffee Break |
16:10 – 17:10 | Roundtable Discussion (E0711) Moderator: Prof. Thomas LEE Chinese University of Hong Kong |
17:10 – 17:30 | Closing Remarks |
Venue: D0309, Jockey Club Campus, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Address: 81 Chung Hau Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon
Please click here to download the route guide.
