Understanding Word Reading Difficulties in Children With SLI.
Suzanne M Adlof
PMID 29423448WHAT IT FOUND
Many children with SLI do not have dyslexia.
Those who do need explicit word reading and spelling help. All need broader language support for reading comprehension.
Key findings
01In a population-based study, most children with SLI did not meet dyslexia criteria, and most children with dyslexia did not meet SLI criteria.
02Phonological processing deficits were more closely associated with dyslexia than with SLI.
03The review recommends explicit word reading and spelling instruction for children with SLI who also meet dyslexia criteria, and broader language support for all children with SLI.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The article reports no original methods or results; it reviews earlier studies. It does not report a systematic search or selection method for the studies it reviews. Several cited studies used clinically referred or convenience samples, which may overstate overlap between SLI and dyslexia. Many cited studies assessed children at only one time point or across wide age ranges, making it hard to tell whether language problems precede reading problems. The review does not show which early measures reliably predict later word reading difficulty in children with SLI. It does not test a treatment, so it cannot provide the size of benefit from word reading or language intervention.
Declared interests
The supplied text states that Suzanne Adlof has no relevant nonfinancial interests to disclose. No funding source or financial conflict is reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that all children with SLI have dyslexia or need the same word reading treatment. In the population-based study, most children with SLI did not meet dyslexia criteria, and most children with dyslexia did not meet SLI criteria.