A Comparison of Language Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Specific Language Impairment

Abstract

Recently, many studies have been performed to determine the relationship of language deficits of children with autism spectrum disorder and children with specific language impairment (SLI). Both autism and SLI are defined by impairments in one specific area of language; however, overlap in the deficits of these disorders is becoming apparent. While lines have been previously drawn to separate these two disorders, the parameters of impairment between autism and SLI may not be as easily defined as once thought.