Whereas "language delay is where language development is simply slower than average and errors are typical of those which could be made by a younger child", language impairment refers to a condition "where language development is qualitatively different from the norm and errors are deviant compared to those produced by those of children of any age" (Donaldson 4). It is inappropriate to use language delay as a characteristic of children with language impairment, since language development milestones vary from child to child. Though language development milestones normally occur within an approximate age range, the exact age at which each is reached by individual children vary immensely.
In addition, language development has different styles with most children acquiring good verbal communication by three years. Some children may not speak until the age of two and a half years when they immediately commence talking in three-word sentences. Other children have several words at the age of ten months and add very few additional words over the following year. To some children speech begins at about 12 months and steadily progress.
Children identified with SLI in the preschool years may outgrow their language impairment with early intervention. An individualized therapy plan has been a more successful intervention than any other since its formulation is hinged on a comprehensive assessment of the child's capabilities in comprehension and production through various domains of language like vocabulary, grammar, and language use. With areas of language that are most considerably affected by language impairment changing across individual children, and even within the same child over time, therapy goals are often tailored for individual children and are reassessed intermittently. In general, the therapy goals selected may vary depending on the age and developmental level of the child.
