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

Abstract

The language development of 5- and 6-year-old 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. Short-term 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 and/or short-term memory. The existence of such deficits calls for specific neuropsychological intervention.