ABSTRACT
Developmental psycholinguistics emphasises the relationship between cognitive abilities and language performance. This approach is based on the notion that language depends upon, and is connected with, a number of specific cognitive abilities, including memory, auditory and visual perception, symbolic understanding, categorising, discriminating and sequencing. This chapter discusses the importance of specific cognitive abilities for the development of language skills. It is argued that in remediating language, therapy should sometimes be directed towards improving specific cognitive abilities. Three tests for identifying psycholinguists abilities are reviewed: the Reynell Developmental Language Scales, the Illinois Test of Psycholinguists Abilities and the Aston Index. For each test, consideration is given to the theoretical background, to assessment, to therapeutic strategies and to related research, and an appraisal is made of each. Reynell's approach to assessment is derived directly from her model of language development.
