Cognitive predictors of language development in children with specific language impairment SLI

Abstract

Background Language development is generally viewed as a multifactorial process. There are increasing indications that this similarly holds for the problematic language development process. Aims A population of 97 young Dutch children with specific language impairment SLI was followed over a 2year period to provide additional evidence for the existence of underlying language factors. Furthermore, the children's language development was related to their nonverbal intellectual reasoning capacity. Methods & Procedures The language abilities were assessed via the administration of an extensive battery of language tests. Cognition was assessed via administration of the Raven progressive matrices, shortterm memory capacity via administration of the Digit Span task. Outcomes & Results The results provide empirical support for distinct language factors for children with language problems. The detected factors were labelled phonology, lexicalsemantics, syntax, and speech production, and were found to be stable and interrelated. Shortterm memory showed strong relations with the language factor syntax and medium relations with the other language factors. Intellectual capacity showed weak to medium relations with three language factors but no relation with the factor speech. Conclusions & implications The language development of 5 and 6yearold Dutch children with SLI appears to be divided into four language factors. The language factors are very stable in this sample and correspond with language factors found in recent studies on language development in children with SLI. Shortterm auditory memory turns out to play an important role in the problematic language acquisition of children with SLI. It is recommended that children with SLI should be assessed on possible deficits in information processing andor shortterm memory. The existence of such deficits calls for specific neuropsychological intervention. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.