Specific Language Impairment in Families

Evidence for Co-Occurrence With Reading Impairments

flax{at}axon.rutgers.edu

Two family aggregation studies report the occurrence and co-occurrence of oral language impairments (LIs) and reading impairments (RIs). Study 1 examined the occurrence (rate) of LI and RI in children with specific language impairment (SLI probands), a matched control group, and all nuclear family members. Study 2 included a larger sample of SLI probands, as well as their nuclear and extended family members. Probands and their family members who met specific criteria were classified as language and/or reading impaired based on current testing. In Study 1, the rates of LI and RI for nuclear family members (excluding probands) were significantly higher than those for control family members. In the SLI families, affected family members were more likely to have both LI and RI than either impairment alone. In Study 2, 68% of the SLI probands also met the diagnostic classification for RI. The language and RI rates for the other family members, excluding probands, were 25% and 23% respectively, with a high degree of co-occurrence of LI and RI (46%) in affected individuals. Significant sex ratio differences were found across generations in the families of SLI probands. There were more male than female offspring in these families, and more males than females were found to have both LIs and RIs. Results demonstrate that when LIs occur within families of SLI probands, these impairments generally co-occur with RIs. Our data are also consistent with prior findings that males show impairments more often than females.

KEY WORDS: specific language impairment, reading impairment, family aggregation, sex ratio

Submitted on May 30, 2002
Accepted on December 17, 2002

CiteULike    Connotea    Delicious    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L. Beattie and F. R. Manis Rise Time Perception in Children With Reading and Combined Reading and Language Difficulties J Learn Disabil, May 1, 2013; 46(3): 200 - 209. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. A. Lewis, A. A. Avrich, L. A. Freebairn, A. J. Hansen, L. E. Sucheston, I. Kuo, H. G. Taylor, S. K. Iyengar, and C. M. Stein Literacy Outcomes of Children With Early Childhood Speech Sound Disorders: Impact of Endophenotypes J Speech Lang Hear Res, December 1, 2011; 54(6): 1628 - 1643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Ritter and T. F. Saxon Classroom-Based Phonological Sensitivity Intervention (PSI) Using a Narrative Platform: An Experimental Study of First Graders At Risk for a Reading Disability Communication Disorders Quarterly, November 1, 2011; 33(1): 3 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. D. Hough and L. Kaczmarek Language and Reading Outcomes in Young Children Adopted From Eastern European Orphanages Journal of Early Intervention, March 1, 2011; 33(1): 51 - 74. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. O. Whitehouse Is There a Sex Ratio Difference in the Familial Aggregation of Specific Language Impairment? A Meta-Analysis J Speech Lang Hear Res, August 1, 2010; 53(4): 1015 - 1025. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Alloway, G. Rajendran, and L. M. D. Archibald Working Memory in Children With Developmental Disorders J Learn Disabil, July 1, 2009; 42(4): 372 - 382. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. F. Flax, T. Realpe-Bonilla, C. Roesler, N. Choudhury, and A. Benasich Using Early Standardized Language Measures to Predict Later Language and Early Reading Outcomes in Children at High Risk for Language-Learning Impairments J Learn Disabil, January 1, 2009; 42(1): 61 - 75. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Q. Cabell, L. M. Justice, T. A. Zucker, and A. S. McGinty Emergent Name-Writing Abilities of Preschool-Age Children With Language Impairment Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch, January 1, 2009; 40(1): 53 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Alloway and L. Archibald Working Memory and Learning in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder and Specific Language Impairment J Learn Disabil, June 1, 2008; 41(3): 251 - 262. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. S. DeThorne, S. A. Hart, S. A. Petrill, K. Deater-Deckard, L. A. Thompson, C. Schatschneider, and M. D. Davison Children's History of Speech-Language Difficulties: Genetic Influences and Associations With Reading-Related Measures J Speech Lang Hear Res, December 1, 2006; 49(6): 1280 - 1293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Lewis, L. D. Shriberg, L. A. Freebairn, A. J. Hansen, C. M. Stein, H. G. Taylor, and S. K. Iyengar The Genetic Bases of Speech Sound Disorders: Evidence From Spoken and Written Language J Speech Lang Hear Res, December 1, 2006; 49(6): 1294 - 1312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Leonard, M. Eckert, B. Given, B. Virginia, and G. Eden Individual differences in anatomy predict reading and oral language impairments in children Brain, December 1, 2006; 129(12): 3329 - 3342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Hadley and J. K. Holt Individual Differences in the Onset of Tense Marking: A Growth-Curve Analysis J Speech Lang Hear Res, October 1, 2006; 49(5): 984 - 1000. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Conti-Ramsden, Z. Simkin, and A. Pickles Estimating Familial Loading in SLI: A Comparison of Direct Assessment Versus Parental Interview. J Speech Lang Hear Res, February 1, 2006; 49(1): 88 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Spaulding, E. Plante, and K. A. Farinella Eligibility Criteria for Language Impairment: Is the Low End of Normal Always Appropriate? Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch, January 1, 2006; 37(1): 61 - 72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Justice, J. Kaderavek, R. Bowles, and K. Grimm Language Impairment, Parent Child Shared Reading, and Phonological Awareness: A Feasibility Study Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, January 1, 2005; 25(3): 143 - 156. [Abstract] [PDF]