Limitations in Language

Limitations in Content for Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)

Children with SLI exhibit a slower rate of vocabulary growth.
Limitations in lexical diversity: struggle with vocabulary comprehension across noun hierarchies (e.g., food, fruit, strawberry).
Use of ambiguous pronouns instead of specific nouns.

Decreased diversity in verb usage.
Type Token Ratio (TTR) analysis often shows performance 1 or more standard deviations below normative data.

Challenges with understanding spatial, temporal, kinship, causal, sequential, and physical relations.

Follow the same phonological patterns as peers but at a slower rate.
Struggle with phonological awareness tasks.
Issues with nominal (noun plural, -s inflection), verbial (third singular –s, regular past tense –ed), and morphological markers.
Tend to use simple conjunctions and produce shorter sentences than peers.

Difficulties in conversation:
- Initiating and sustaining conversations.
- Providing clarification after communication breakdowns.
- Adapting communication to listeners.
- Maintaining conversational flow.
Less likely to be chosen as conversational partners by typically developing peers.
Deficits in comprehension and short-term memory impact classroom performance.
Tend not to ask for clarification and struggle with multistep directions.
May withdraw or express anger/aggression when unable to communicate wants/needs or engage in conflict resolution.