title: EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PROFILES IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT.
abstract: We present findings from a study that focused on specific executive functions (EF) in children with and without specific language impairment (SLI). We analyzed performance patterns and EF profiles (spatial working memory, inhibition control, and sustained attention) in school-age SLI children and two control groups: age-matched and language matched. Our main research goal was to identify those EFs that show a weakness in children with SLI. Our specific aims were to: (1) examine whether the EF problems in children with SLI are domain-general; (2) examine whether deficits in EF in children with SLI can be explained by the general slowness hypothesis or by an overall delay in development; (3) compare EF profiles to examine whether children with SLI show a distinct pattern of performance from their peers. Our findings showed different EF profiles for the groups. We observed differences in performance patterns related to age (e.g., reaction time in response inhibition) and differences related to language status (e.g., sensitivity to interference). The findings show interesting associations in EFs that play a crucial role in language processing.
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Barczi Gusztav College of Special Education of Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Barczi Gusztav College of Special Education of Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campanelli
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Barczi Gusztav College of Special Education of Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheuer
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Barczi Gusztav College of Special Education of Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest.
authors.forename: Jungmee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, Barczi Gusztav College of Special Education of Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eichorn
keywords: Inhibition control; Language impairment; School age children; Spatial working memory; Sustained attention