Turn exchange characteristics of SLI children's simultaneous and nonsimultaneous speech

The specifically language impaired (SLI) child's turn exchange behaviors were examined in adult-child interaction and compared to those of children of similar chronological ages or language structural levels. Videotaped language samples were analyzed for verbal and nonverbal behaviors associated with the children's production of simultaneous and nonsimultaneous speech. The results indicated qualitative differences from those of the normal language children in terms of turn errors, interruptions, interactive attention, responsiveness, and turn switch times, as well as variability related to SLI subtype.