Language Disorders in Children: Classification and Clinical Syndromes

This article reviews the normal pattern of language development in infants and young children. Classifications of childhood language disorders are presented and common clinical syndromes are described. Etiologic and comorbid factors associated with the development of language disorder are discussed in relation to current understanding of genetic and neuroanatomic aspects of brain development. Finally, the long-term outcome of individuals with childhood-onset language disorders is discussed.