Children With Specific Language Impairment

by Laurence B. Leonard

• ISBN13: 9780262621366
• ISBN10: 0262621363
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-21
• Publisher: Mit Pr

Summary

Approximately five percent of all children are born with the disorder known as specific language impairment (SLI). These children show a significant deficit in spoken language ability with no obvious accompanying condition such as mental retardation, neurological damage, or hearing impairment. Children with Specific Language Impairmentcovers all aspects of SLI, including its history, possible genetic and neurobiological origins, and clinical and educational practice. The book highlights important research strategies in the quest to find the cause of SLI and to develop methods of prevention and treatment. It also explores how knowledge of SLI may add to our understanding of language organization and development in general.

Author Biography

Laurence B. Leonard is Rachel E. Stark Distinguished Professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences at Purdue University.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
PART I Foundations	1	(40)
Introduction	3	(24)
Characterizing the Language Deficit: Basic Concepts	27	(14)
PART II Describing the Data: Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Findings	41	(106)
The Language Characteristics of SLI: A Detailed Look at English	43	(46)
SLI Across Languages	89	(30)
Evidence from Nonlinguistic Cognitive Tasks	119	(14)
Auditory Processing and Speech Perception	133	(14)
PART III Nature and Nurture	147	(30)
The Genetics and Neurobiology of SLI	149	(14)
The Linguistic and Communicative Environment	163	(14)
PART IV Clinical Issues	177	(34)
Problems of Differential Diagnosis	179	(14)
The Nature and Efficacy of Treatment	193	(18)
PART V Theoretical Issues	211	(68)
SLI as a Deficit in Linguistic Knowledge	213	(24)
SLI as a Limitation in General Processing Capacity	237	(32)
SLI as a Processing Deficit in Specific Mechanisms	269	(10)
PART VI Conclusions	279	(8)
Why Study SLI Revisited	281	(6)
References	287	(38)
Name Index	325	(12)
Subject Index	337