Which statement about Specific Language Impairment is NOT supported by the material?

Which statement about Specific Language Impairment is NOT supported by the material?

• A. It involves language deficits without hearing loss or cognitive impairment.
• B. It typically involves morphosyntax difficulties and usually normal nonverbal IQ.
• C. It is always accompanied by global cognitive delay.
• D. It occurs with normal hearing.

Answer: (C)

Specific Language Impairment is defined by language difficulties that occur despite normal hearing and typical nonverbal cognitive abilities. The statement that it is always accompanied by global cognitive delay goes against this core idea. In SLI, nonverbal IQ is usually average or even above average, and the impairment is focused on language skills—often showing up as morphosyntax difficulties like trouble with tense marking or sentence structure—rather than a broader cognitive slowdown. So the language problems exist without a global cognitive delay, which is why that statement isn’t supported. The other points fit this pattern: language deficits without hearing loss or cognitive impairment, morphosyntax challenges with usually normal nonverbal IQ, and normal hearing.

Specific Language Impairment is defined by language difficulties that occur despite normal hearing and typical nonverbal cognitive abilities. The statement that it is always accompanied by global cognitive delay goes against this core idea. In SLI, nonverbal IQ is usually average or even above average, and the impairment is focused on language skills—often showing up as morphosyntax difficulties like trouble with tense marking or sentence structure—rather than a broader cognitive slowdown. So the language problems exist without a global cognitive delay, which is why that statement isn’t supported. The other points fit this pattern: language deficits without hearing loss or cognitive impairment, morphosyntax challenges with usually normal nonverbal IQ, and normal hearing.