Reconceptualizing developmental language disorder as a spectrum disorder: issues and evidence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is considerable variability in the presentation of developmental language disorder (DLD). Disagreement amongst professionals about how to characterize and interpret the variability complicates both the research on understanding the nature of DLD and the best clinical framework for diagnosing and treating children with DLD. We describe and statistically examine three primary possible models for characterizing the variability in presentation in DLD: predictable subtypes; individual differences; and continuum/spectrum.

Aims

To test these three models of DLD in a population-based sample using two distinct types of cluster analyses.

Methods & procedures

This study included children with DLD (n = 505) from the US Epidemiological Study of Language Impairment

SUBMITTER: Lancaster HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6684235 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature