Specific Language Impairment

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the language development in children who do not have any physical, intellectual, emotional, or environmental difficulties. It is also not due to a hearing loss or autism spectrum disorder.

Definition

SLI is defined as a difficulty with language that is not caused by a known physical, intellectual, emotional, or environmental cause. It is a language disorder that delays the mastery of language skills in children who have no hearing loss or other developmental delays.

Symptoms

Symptoms of SLI can vary greatly from child to child, but they often include:

• Difficulty understanding language
• Difficulty using language
• Difficulty learning new words
• Difficulty forming sentences
• Difficulty following directions

Causes

The exact cause of SLI is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies have suggested that SLI may be linked to abnormalities in the brain's language processing areas.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of SLI is typically made by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) through a series of language and speech tests. The SLP will also take into account the child's age, developmental level, and other factors.

Treatment

Treatment for SLI typically involves speech and language therapy. The goal of therapy is to help the child improve their language skills and to help them communicate more effectively.

See also

• Developmental language disorder
• Language delay
• Speech and language pathology

References

Specific Language Impairment Resources
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