Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an excellent review of a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and is characterized by intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits in academic attainment, social skills, and daily functioning. It summarizes the working memory and Executive Functioning profiles of children with specific language impairments. The book outlines the verbal and visuospatial Working Memory profile of Autism spectrum disorder, in the context of their developmental trajectory. It explains changes in the diagnostic criteria for the disorder, including its recognition as a neurodevelopmental rather than an externalizing disorder of childhood. The book reviews converging evidence that reading disorders reflect a fundamental deficit in verbal short-term memory and Working Memory. It focuses on Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in written language, including effective assessments for differential diagnosis, and remediation. The book discusses the role of Working Memory in mathematical thinking across development, and in SLD-math.