AbstractThis paper provides a review of recent research on executive function abilities in children with specific language impairment (SLI). Across several studies, children with SLI are reported to perform worse than typically developing peers on measures of sustained attention, working memory, inhibi-tion, and attention shifting. However, few studies have con-sidered multiple executive function components simulta-neously and even fewer have examined the underlying rela-tionship between executive function deficits and impaired lan-guage acquisition. We argue that in order to fully understand the nature of executive function deficits in SLI, the field must move past simply identifying weaknesses to instead test models of executive function development and explore the
nature of the relationship between executive function and lan-guage. Future research directions are recommended in order to achieve these goals.
KeywordsSpecific language impairment.Executive function .Workingmemory. Attention.Inhibition .Attention shifting.Cognitive development