[Developmental dysphasia and the use of symbols in play]

In the present study symbolic play behavior was examined in eight dysphasic children and eight mentally retarded children matched for expressive language ability. Significant correlations between symbolic play and expressive language ability were found for the mentally retarded children but not for those of normal intelligence with dysphasia. Consequently, the developmental disorder of the dysphasic children cannot be attributed to a generalized deficit in representational symbolic ability.