Conceptualizing, defining, and assessing pragmatic language impairment in clinical settings: A scoping review

There has been significant and extensive knowledge production in the last four decades regarding pragmatic language impairment (PLI) children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The evidence contained this literature, however, is contradictory. present scoping review (ScR) seeks to disentangle competing explanations of conceptualizing, defining, assessing PLI develop more systematic suitable for improving early intervention diagnosing PLI. Our research included retrieving articles, books, book chapters, encyclopaedia other published material on preschoolers' PLIs from online databases. A total 133 studies have identified, divided into two types: 63 conceptualizing preschoolers 70 defining without regard age. They were between 1983 2022. inclusion first group was based upon factors such as age participants, clinical settings, use assessment instruments. second selected accordance Web Science, Scopus, Lens database indicators that indicated who most popular authors within field. This utilized PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items Systematic reviews Meta-Analyses extension Scoping Reviews) checklist Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Results indicate being conceptualized inconsistently. Three lists concepts are reported here, earliest concept “semantic-pragmatic syndrome” prevalent “PLI” semantic features. Among common misconceptions impairment, disorder, deficit, dysfunction, disability, many concepts, both same publication among different written numerous publications Researchers clinicians confused nature social (pragmatic) communication disorder compared PLI, owing part its a As final point, we argue using methods promising approach hope consistency disorders or others. vast number existing seek conceptualize, define, assess preschool conditions illustrates broad interest understanding about occurrence impairment. Further, these also highlight some patterns, discrepancies, contradictions relevant suggests researchers all related fields should endeavour be consistent way defined discussed avoid miscommunication confusion across professions, well decrease redundancy overlap information. conception development necessary obtain clarity diagnosis, assessment, intervention, rehabilitation.