Visual check back in children with Specific Language Impairment

Sensitivity to eye gaze is suggested to be an important prerequisite for intersubjectivity and for normal language development. The present study investigated visual check back in two age groups of typically developed children and one group of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI, n = 10). The control children were matched to the SLI children with regard to language level (LMC, n = 10) and to age (AMC, n = 10). Play setting situations, including child and teacher, were designed to elicit the children's use of visual check back. The children with lower language level (SLI children aged 5:0 and LMC children aged 2:1) gave visual check back significantly more seldom than the higher language level children (aged 5:1) and they also needed more time for giving check back, i.e. there is a relation between visual check back and language level. The results indicate that children with SLI have a deviant visual communication that further worsens their already limited communicative ability.