Is there an overlap between Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia? New insights from French

Abstract

Reading skills (word reading and reading comprehension), phonologicalshort-term memory (STM), listening comprehension and oral expression wereexamined in two clinical groups (one with Specific Language Impairment[SLI] and one with Developmental Dyslexia [DD]) in both a group study anda multiple-case study. In comparison to chronological age controls, significantand highly prevalent deficits were found in word reading and reading comprehensionfor children with DD. By contrast, deficits in listening comprehension,oral expression and phonological STM were found to be more significant andmore prevalent in children with SLI. These results are in line with models thatconceive SLI and DD as distinct developmental disorders rather than differingonly in the degree of phonological impairment involved.