Specific Language Impairment

What is the current evidence about Specific Language Impairment (SLI) and DCD?

Similar to studies looking at the overlap between ADHD and DCD, many studies have shown that approximately half to as many as 90% of children with identified speech-language disorders also have co-occurring coordination difficulties. The significant overlap between these two disabilities has led researchers to question the underlying causes of motor and speech-language disorders, which may be common to both conditions.

What might you see?

Unlike the situation with DCD and ADHD, it is usually a little easier to determine whether a child has a motor-based problem, a speech-language-based problem, or both.  The type of speech and language difficulties will vary depending upon the severity, type of disorder, and age of the child.

The condition may include difficulties in understanding and/or expressing the following:

• Semantics - errors in the meaning of words, a limited amount of speech, limited vocabulary, difficulty learning new words, word-finding or vocabulary errors
• Grammar - errors in sentence structure such as shortened sentences, simple grammar structures, limited grammar, leaving out critical parts of sentences, use of unusual word order
• Articulation - errors with speech sounds, unclear or slowed speech, repetition of syllables, difficulty with stress in speech

In speech and language disorders, children often have delayed language development, with parents reporting that their child is or was late to talk (e.g., saying his/her first words after 18 months of age, having a vocabulary or less than 50 expressive words and/or not putting words together at 2 years of age). In all speech and language conditions, the difficulties may range from mild to severe. A Speech Language Pathologist can help determine how the communication difficulties affect the child's social and learning needs.