The aim of this study was to review relevant studies about language comprehension deficits observed in children and adolescents with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). Comprehensive databases were accessed in order to obtain relevant papers published in the last two decades. Literature shows that this clinical group may present important oral comprehension difficulties, which may be explained by either lack of linguistic knowledge or inefficient higher-order linguistic processing operations. As children with SLI develop, they improve comprehension abilities. However, deficits are still verified during adolescence. Therefore, early diagnosis of comprehension deficits is essential for effective intervention. Extensive literature reveals the effectiveness of many speech-language therapy techniques.
Comprehension; Language development disorders; Language tests; Language therapy; Language development