What is a common finding regarding vocabulary acquisition in children with SLI?

Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) often exhibit significant challenges in various aspects of language development, particularly in vocabulary acquisition. Research indicates that these children typically have a reduced vocabulary size compared to their peers who develop language typically. This slower rate of vocabulary growth can impact their ability to understand and use language effectively, which further influences their overall communication skills.

In contrast to typically developing children, who generally expand their vocabulary rapidly and are able to learn new words through incidental exposure, those with SLI may struggle to acquire and retain vocabulary due to difficulties with word learning mechanisms, such as phonological processing and semantic mapping. This results in a pronounced difference in vocabulary knowledge, making it a significant characteristic of SLI.

Therefore, the understanding that children with SLI acquire vocabulary significantly slower than their peers is supported by extensive clinical observations and research, marking this as a crucial finding in the field of speech and language development.