12.1 SLI

Question 1

specific language impairment

Answer 1

a term used for children who have language learning disabilities without an explanation

Question 2

exclusionary criteria for SLI

Answer 2

hearing
sensorimotor functioning
socio-emotional problems
nonverbal intelligence
congenital malformations of vocal tract
focal brain lesions
TBI
cerebral palsy
severe seizure disorders

Question 3

SLI exclusionary and inclusionary criteria are important for

Answer 3

research purposes and clinical purposes

Question 4

inclusionary criteria

Answer 4

no consensus
discrepancy criteria: difference between expected level of language performance based on age, grade level, etc. and actual language performance
- language test scores of -1.25 SD or lower
- neuromaturational delays
- poorer attention

Question 5

clinical exam for SLI

Answer 5

hearing screening
oral motor structure and function
language testing
language sample
observation for motor function
observation of level of attention

Question 6

prevalence of SLI

Answer 6

range between 2% and 12% in different studies

more likely in boys

Question 7

outcome

Answer 7

many children will continue to have subtle language impairments during school and adulthood

Question 8

main vulnerability in SLI is

Answer 8

verb morphology
past tense -ed
3rd person singular -s
copula
poorer vocabulary learning

Question 9

assessment goals

Answer 9

describe language behavior and relate it to some standard
identify children with LD
plan intervention
estimate prognosis
decide if its delay or disorder

Question 10

common procedure

Answer 10

match mastery of relevant structures in children with SLI with the mastery in younger language-matched controls

Question 11

two theories

Answer 11

1. the problem is language-specific. a lack of grammatical knowledge.
2. the problem is more general in nature. a problem of poor processing abilities underlying language comprehension and production.