The Identification of Language Impairment in the Selection of Specifically Language-Impaired Subjects

¹ Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Vermont, Burlington
² Division of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Arizona, Tucson

This review focused on the methods used to identify language impairment in specifically language-impaired subjects participating in 72 research studies that were described in four journals from 1983 to 1988. The single most frequent source of information used in the identification process was found to be test data. There was, however, considerable variability and, often, a lack of clarity regarding the specific number and identity of tests used. More specific findings on test use indicated that researchers routinely assessed both expressive and receptive language and that they used incomplete tests. When test scores used in identification and selection were examined, there was a wide range of score types, and age-equivalent scores were by far the most common and often the only type of score utilized. Conclusions are drawn regarding the impact of these findings on the interpretation and generalizability of this research literature.

Key Words: specific language impairment • research methodology • subject selection • diagnosis

Submitted on August 25, 1989
Accepted on November 7, 1989

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