Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Difficulty with language is one of the most common reasons for referral to health professionals during the pre-school years. Language difficulties are associated with many developmental disorders such as autism but for children with specific language impairment (SLI), language problems are relatively specific. SLI is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a heritable bases. Patterns of inheritence are complex suggesting multiple genes operating probabilistically alongside multiple environmental risk factors. This complexity is mirrored by a complex and heterogenous phenotype. Children with persistent language inpairment are at risk of psychosocial and behaviour problems as well as poor literacy and low educational achievement. A challenge for future work is to understand how genetic and environmental factors impinge on brain development, as well as to develop and refine methods of assessment and intervention. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original publication

DOI

10.1383/psyt.2005.4.9.114

Type

Journal article

Journal

Psychiatry

Publication Date

01/09/2005

Volume

4

Pages

114 - 117