Six-year old Olivia has trouble expressing herself verbally and seems to have an abnormally short working memory span. Doctors have not been able to find any specific neurological or physiological problems, but her twin sister, Jane, seems to have similar impairments. If you were her pediatrician, which of the following disorders of speech would you believe was affecting Olivia?
A) Downs syndrome
B) FOXP2 syndrome
C) Specific language impairment
D) Williams syndrome

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Specific language impairment is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in language acquisition and use without any apparent neurological, hearing, or cognitive impairment. It is often referred to as a language-specific learning impairment, and it affects a person's ability to learn and use spoken, written, or sign language. Olivia's symptoms suggest that she may be experiencing specific language impairment, which is a common developmental disorder that affects approximately 7-10% of children. The fact that her twin sister, Jane, seems to have similar impairments, suggests that there may be a genetic component to their disorder. FOXP2 syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects speech and language development, is also a possibility, but it is less likely given the lack of other physical symptoms. Down syndrome and Williams syndrome both present with a range of physical and cognitive impairments, which are not present in Olivia's case.

Six-Year Old Olivia Has Trouble Expressing Herself Verbally and Seems