answered (verified) 2025/2026
ASHA's definition of LI - correct answer ✔✔-Impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken
written, or other symbols.
-May involve form, content, or function in any combination.
-Assumes a naturalistic perspective
Form - correct answer ✔✔Phonology, morphology, syntax
Content - correct answer ✔✔Semantics
Function - correct answer ✔✔Pragmatics
Naturalistic perspective (AKA Neutralist) - correct answer ✔✔-Cares about measuring how far
someone varies from the typical range
Paul's definition of LI - correct answer ✔✔-Significant deficit in learning to talk, understand, or
use any aspect of language appropriately
Difference between ASHA's and Paul's definitions of LI - correct answer ✔✔Paul's definition
adds environmental expectations (how they are functioning in the real world)
Normative perspective - correct answer ✔✔Takes into account fully how a person functions and
if their language problems lead to problems in other areas (peer acceptance, job performance,
etc.)
, Causes of LI - correct answer ✔✔-Neurological damage
-Deficits in auditory processing
-Limited processing capacity
-Difficulties in learning rules
-Impoverished input (usually only really extreme cases)
-DOROTHY BISHOP believes that children w/ a deficit in one of these areas may or may not be
impaired, but they're more likely to have LI.
-We don't know what causes LI
Is LI heterogenous or homogenous? - correct answer ✔✔Heterogenous. No 2 people w/ LI look
exactly the same
Is LI changeable? - correct answer ✔✔-Yes
-It is also chronic: it doesn't usually go away and may vary in symptoms/manifestations
Why doesn't it matter that we don't know the cause of LI? - correct answer ✔✔Knowing the
etiology doesn't really influence what we do in treatment
Categorical mode of child LI - correct answer ✔✔Organizes language disorders on the basis of
the syndromes of behavior they accompany
Advantages of Categorical mode of child LI - correct answer ✔✔1. Easy to understand
2. Easy (in theory) to identify the child's problem & how the child might differ from others
3. Labels are often needed for services
Disadvantages of Categorical mode of child LI - correct answer ✔✔1. Not always a clear link
between the category and the language problem (there's an overlap w/ autism & LI)
2. Individuals don't always fit cleanly into categories