SLI is identified through a combination of standardized language tests, parental reports of language difficulties, and clinical judgement. Bishop (2004, 2009) and Bishop & Norbury (2008) discuss the diagnostic dilemmas of SLI and how combining test scores and parental reports can help with identification. Tomblin et al. (1996, 1997) developed systems for diagnosing SLI in kindergarten-aged children using standardized tests. Cohen (1996) notes that language impairments are sometimes unsuspected in psychiatrically disturbed children.

1. How is SLI identified?
References
Bishop, D. V. M. (2004). Specific language impairment: diagnostic dilemmas. In L. Verhoeven & H.
Van Balkom (Eds.), Classification of Developmental Language Disorders (pp. 309-326). Mahwah, NJ.:
Erlbaum. Available here: http://tinyurl.com/cz3kf9s
Bishop, D. V. M., & McDonald, D. (2009). Identifying language impairment in children: combining
language test scores with parental report. International Journal of Language and Communication
Disorders, 44, 600-615. Available here: http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0dc0d3c4-e03a-448b-acce-
e601a653143e
Bishop, D., & Norbury, C. F. (2008). Speech and language disorders. In M. Rutter, D. Bishop, D. Pine,
S. Scott, J. Stevenson, E. Taylor & A. Thapar (Eds.), Rutter's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (pp. 782-
801). Oxford: Blackwell. Available here: http://tinyurl.com/bnr2gag
Cohen, N. J. (1996). Unsuspected language impairments in psychiatrically disturbed children:
developmental issues and associated conditions. In J. H. Beitchman, N. J. Cohen, M. M.
Konstantareas & R. Tannock (Eds.), Language, Learning, and Behavior Disorders (pp. 105-127).
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tomblin, J. B., Records, N., & Zhang, X. (1996). A system for the diagnosis of specific language
impairment in kindergarten children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 39, 1284-1294.
Tomblin, J. B., Records, N. L., Buckwalter, P., Zhang, X., Smith, E., & O'Brien, M. (1997). Prevalence of
specific language impairment in kindergarten children. Journal of Speech and Hearing Research,
40(6), 1245-1260.