Specific Language Impairment (SLI) arises after a period of normal development until language fails to appear when it should. The average age at which children begin to worry is 2 years old, and parents are the ones who usually report these difficulties. Often, the thought of "he'll talk soon enough..." combined with abilities in other areas delays intervention and worsens symptoms and the prognosis.
In it VICON Method SLI intervention is the second most common type of caseload in our program, so we've dedicated a section of articles to these families. We hope they will be helpful in providing a comprehensive overview of SLI description, early detection, and early intervention. We're confident that many disorders can also benefit from these analyses of SLI we'll offer. We begin...
What is TEL?
Specific Language Impairment (SLI in English and SLI in Spanish) is a neurodevelopmental disorder Referring to communication that interferes with the development of language skills in children who do not have hearing loss or intellectual disability. It is also known as developmental language disorder, language delay, or developmental dysphasiaIt is one of the most common developmental disorders and affects approximately between 7% and 8% for children in preschool age. The effects of this disorder typically continue into adulthood.
Specifically it affects the acquisition and development of oral language. It can affect both the comprehension and expressive areas, or both. SLI always appears as a delay in language acquisitionThis does not mean that all late talkers will end up having a Specific Language Impairment, but nevertheless, all SLI were late talkers.
A child with a language delay is at risk for later development of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), SLI (Specific Language Impairment), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), learning disabilities, etc., therefore, early detection is required for subsequent intervention and follow-up. Symptoms appear early in life and should be diagnosed before the age of 4-5.
What causes SLI?
The cause of SLI is unknown, but recent discoveries suggest a strong genetic link. Children with SLI are more likely to have parents and siblings who also have speech difficulties and delays; 50% to 70% children with SLI have at least one relative with the disorder.
The disorder can affect both multilingual children and children who speak only one language; learning more than one language at a time does not cause specific language disorder.
What are the symptoms of SLI?
The first symptom, as we mentioned, is the late acquisition of language; they reach the stages of spoken language development later than other children of the same age.
They present difficulties in:
- Language comprehension
- Learn new words
- Follow instructions
- Difficulty finding the right words
- Understanding figurative language
- Carry out a conversation
- Reading and writing problems
It is classified as a disorder “heterogeneous"Because we'll never find two SLIs that are the same. Symptoms vary greatly from one child to another and don't always present in the same form or intensity.
Specific language impairment is not the same as a learning disability.However, it is a risk factor for learning disabilities, as having difficulty with basic language skills affects classroom performance and even socialization. This means that children with specific language impairment are more likely to be diagnosed with a learning disability than children without this disorder.
They have limited vocabulary and difficulty understanding and organizing thoughts into coherent sentences. Difficulties with language comprehension can present challenges for problem-solving, planning, and expression. In addition, some children with specific language impairment may show signs of dyslexia.
Early detection in SLI?
Evaluation, diagnosis and intervention Early diagnosis is essential in the development of children with SLI. Diagnosis is very complex and poses many challenges, especially at early ages.
- Before 3 years it is difficult to determine whether oral language difficulties are due to a language delay or a language disorder.
- At 4 years of age, we can already talk about a possible SLI.
- The diagnosis is usually confirmed at age 5..
The early detection and thus interventionearly ion contributes to developing maximum potential of the child, improving their expectations. It allows for adequate guidance of families and reduce family stress. Facilitates the search for educational and therapeutic resources tailored to their needs. We shouldn't wait for a diagnosis to be confirmed before beginning to address the difficulties detected, but rather start paying attention to the signs. Remember the significant impact this disorder has on their school, personal, and emotional lives, not just at an early age.
The factors that make early detection difficult There is a lack of biological markers and physical indicators. Cultural tolerance for delayed language development, the famous "HE'LL TALK!", in addition to being part of a very heterogeneous group. In many cases, we also find insufficient training and scarce primary care services—pediatrics and educational services.
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