The cause of SLI is unknown, but recent discoveries suggest it has a strong genetic link. Children with SLI are more likely than those without SLI to have parents and siblings who also have had difficulties and delays in speaking. In fact, 50 to 70 percent of children with SLI have at least one other family member with the disorder.

Children with SLI are often late to talk and may not produce any words until they are 2 years old. At age 3, they may talk, but may not be understood. As they grow older, children with SLI will struggle to learn new words and make conversation. Having difficulty using verbs is a hallmark of SLI. Typical errors that a 5-year-old child with SLI would make include dropping the “s” from the end of present-tense verbs, dropping past tense, and asking questions without the usual “be” or “do” verbs. For example, instead of saying “She rides the horse,” a child with SLI will say, “She ride the horse.” Instead of saying “He ate the cookie,” a child with SLI will say, “He eat the cookie.” Instead of saying “Why does he like me?”, a child with SLI will ask, “Why he like me?”

Specific language impairment (SLI) is a language disorder that delays the communication with language and delay the language-related skills in children who does not have any developmental delays. It is counted as one of the most common childhood learning disabilities, affecting approximately 7 to 8 percent of children in kindergarten. The impact of SLI persists into adulthood.

regards // Beston

Hi Avesta.  I'd like to reiterate what Ella says above.  The first question I have is whether this is a speech problem or a language problem.  Just to clarify, 'language' is a system of knowledge that we hold about combinations of sounds and words that represent meaning.  'Speech' on the other hand, is how we express our knowledge of language orally.  An example of speech without language is a speaking parrot and an example of language without speech is a typical person with their mouth taped shut.  (These are simple examples I use to explain to my students.)  If someone doesn't speak, they may still have language, but use it only for comprehension, not for production.  Is there evidence of language comprehension in this child?  Also, you say that the child does not speak but articulation problems have been ruled out.  This is contradictory information as articulation is judged during speaking.  Could you please clarify?  It's clear that several of us are happy to help if possible.

thank you all

this child has  a good comprehension but he can not speak ,only a few word ( some time repeating syllable ) he had all examination and test all came that he had not any problem with his biological organ , he had issue with encoding process because he has not express what he want to say . with regard

Hi again.  Do you know if he ever spoke and when he was a baby, did he babble?

Dear Ella and  Jodi

Thank you Ella i read your note it was so helpfull and i  read your attach they were intresting , i ll see that case  soon  i  see him and get more information i'll inform you .Thank you for your kindness  

Dear Jodi and Ella your diagnos was right the child (Aye)has apraxia and she wan not babbeld when she was infant 

than for your help 

Avesta

Dear Avesta,

I'm glad you have been able to get more information.  Please do write if we can be of any further help.

Jodi

May I ask in which input situation the child is ? Do you have information about the quantity of exposure to language input the child receives? One last question would be: in which country does the child live and what is his or her first language?

I agree with the given information from Ella and the others. But besides that, also other aspects may be involved. Hereby I think about the question of Kumru: maybe to less exposure to language.

How does the child communicates in a non-verbal way? If the non-verbal communication is normal, there is a good chance that there is no severe problem, but a language delay.

Do you have information about the parent-child interactions? Maybe the information from the website www.hanen.org can help you furhter. I always work with the 'Hanen-pricipals' that you can find in the books: it takes two to talk, More than words, Learning Language and Loving it. You can order the books and DVDs on that website.

I included these principels in the preventive program that Prof. Maurice Mommaerts and I developed for our research about children with cleft lip and palate.In that research I also had such a child. I teached these principals to the mother and we saw the child changing in a short period. The boy began to talk and the mother was very surprised to hear his voice.

Mie

Thank you Mie for  your answers 

you are welcome.

I hope I could help you.

Mie

My daughter is 5 year old, she was born with a congenital heart disease "Tetralogy of Fallot", she had her open heart surgery when she was 1.5 years. She was delayed in every aspect due to her heart issue including her muscle tone which was very low. So we started her physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy after her surgery so she could cope up her learning and growth like other children.

With time she started to stand (at 3 years), walk (still little balance issue due to flat feet), and understand things. She now goes to an inclusive school. We are seeing all development in her growth and learning however we have seen very little progress in her speech.

She use to say hi, and bye some 3 months before but now she has stopped to say these words as well. She cannot speak anything other than few sounds such as Haa, Oo etc.

On command following when we tell her to close the door and bring water, sometimes she follows, but often she ignores.

Its been now over 3 years that she is going for speech therapy with different pathologists (twice or thrice in a week - each session is one hour) but we dont see any progress.

We have had following tests for her:

1) DiGeorge Syndrome : which is negative

2) Brain MRI: which is absolutely fine

3) Berra Test: which is mild loss

4) We have also taken her to ENT to see if she is not Cleft Palate

We are unable to diagnose the issue as to why she cant speak. However, now we plan to start her with Alternative Communication through sign language. I would like to take an advice from you regarding any diagnostic tests or any methods that you think might be helpful for my daughter.

Thanks

Danish