Articles

Let The Kids Shine – Know What Is Specific Language Impairment

By Mr. Bino M.Varghese : Speech Language Pathologist and Audiologist

Language is a vital tool which facilitates us for communicating thoughts and ideas, forge cultural ties and economic relationships. Language is not only a vehicle for the expression of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments and values characteristic of a community; it also represents a fundamental expression of social identity. Children who are unable to communicate effectively through language or to use language as a basis for further learning are handicapped socially, educationally and as a consequence emotionally.
Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is a developmental language disorder that can affect both expressive and receptive language. SLI is defined as “pure” language impairment, meaning that is not related to or caused by other developmental disorders, hearing loss or acquired brain injury. SLI is used to refer to problems in the acquisition and use of language, typically in the context of normal development.
Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) have difficulties with oral language that first become apparent in the preschool years, prior to formal schooling. Although the pace of oral language development varies widely among typical youngsters, children with SLI have language difficulties that are clearly outside the typical range and that can be diagnosed by a Speech-Language Pathologist.
They exhibit problems in combining and selecting speech sounds of language into meaningful units (phonological awareness). Symptoms include impoverished vocabulary, word finding problems, difficulty learning new words and understanding word meanings. An incomplete understanding of verbs has a hard time formulating sentences and/or has other noticeable grammatical errors. The child rarely volunteers an answer, or becomes terribly nervous when asked to speak verbally. The child has sequencing and problem solving difficulties. There is also, a noticeable difference in written language abilities.
Intensive language intervention can allow these children to make considerable gains with modelling of appropriate linguistic forms that the child is having difficulty with being especially effective. The prognosis for children with SLI depends very heavily on the type and severity of the language problem experienced. Many language problems can be largely overcome, although some difficulties usually persist.
Early identification and intervention are extremely important in order to foster language and social growth and to give children the best possible foundation for formal schooling. Although preschool language intervention may not eliminate the risk of future reading difficulties, it can prevent or reduce many problems. For example, children with language impairment may have temper tantrums that occur due to frustration over their inability to communicate effectively, intervention that enables children to communicate their wishes and needs can help to avoid these kinds of behaviour problems.

"Language is the light of the mind."