Understanding alexithymia and language skills in children: implications for assessment and intervention.
OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the construct of alexithymia and its relationship to language impairment.


METHODS
The article includes a review of the literature on emotional competence, trauma effects, alexithymia, and language impairment; summarizes tools to assess alexithymia; and provides an intervention framework.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the relationship of emotional competence and language impairment may provide a new perspective for speech-language pathologists who are serving children with language and socioemotional impairments.
Way
Ineke
I
School of Social Work, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5354, USA. ineke.way@wmich.edu
Yelsma
Paul
P
Van Meter
Adelia M
AM
Black-Pond
Connie
C
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007807:Language Tests; D007808:Language Therapy