Clinical Markers for Specific Language Impairment: a comparison between English and Italian

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is a developmental language disorder which hinders the development of both language expression and comprehension in children. This lack of evolution of language skills is not related to any general delay in development and even though the cause of it is not known, genetic influences are said to be likely in many cases. Considering that SLI is a disorder that persists (to different degrees) into adulthood, individuals are likely to experience difficulties concerning not only academic performance, but also many levels of their private environment. It is essential to have an accurate diagnosis from an early age, and therefore researchers have developed tests that consent the identification of clinical markers of Specific Language Impairment. The aim of this paper is not only to analyze SLI, but also to compare the clinical markers of two languages with totally different backgrounds such as English and Italian.