Abstract

We present data on the changing linguistic profile (phonological, lexical, morphological and synthatic) of three children with language delays that were identified between 4-6 years of age, followed longitudinally for approximately five years. The goal of this study was to uncover predicotrs of subsequent changes in the nature and severityu of these language impairments. The three subjects displayed very different profiles of development: in one case there was progressive improvement in all areas, while the other two continued to display serious difficulties, especially in their expressive language. Syntactic comprhension appears to be the best predictor of linguistic outcomes in these three cases.