Sheena Reilly|Bruce Tomblin|James Law|Cristina McKean|Fiona Mensah|Angela Morgan|Sharon Goldfeld|Jan M. Nicholson|Melissa Wake
Specific language impairment: a convenient label for whom?
Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Royal Children's Hospital|University of Melbourne|University of Iowa|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Newcastle University|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Newcastle University|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne|Parenting Research Centre|Royal Children's Hospital|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne
term specific language impairment sli use since 1980s describes children language impairment whose cognitive skills within normal limits identifiable reason language impairment sli determined applying exclusionary criteria defined rather recent decision include sli dsm5 provoked much debate concern researchers cliniciansto explore term specific language impairment emerged consider disorders including sli generally defined explore societal changes might impact use termwe reviewed literature explore origins term specific language impairment present published evidence well new analyses population data explore validity continuing use termwe support decision exclude term specific language impairment dsm5 conclude term convenient label researchers current classification unacceptably arbitrary furthermore argue empirical evidence support continued use term sli limited evidence provided real benefits children families fact term may disadvantageous due use exclusionary criteria determine eligibility access speech pathology services propose following recommendations first word specific removed label language impairment used second exclusionary criteria relaxed place inclusionary criteria adopted take account fluid nature language development particularly preschool period building goodwill collaborations clinical research communities propose establishment international consensus panel develop agreed definition set criteria language impairment given rich data available population studies possible test validity definitions criteria consultation service users policymakers incorporated decisionmaking process