Editing Expressive language disorder (section)

===Specific language impairment===
{{Main|Specific language impairment}}
Neuroimaging techniques, such as structural and [[functional MRI]], found no significant differences between individuals with SLI and normal controls. However, more subtle and sophisticated techniques, such as [[voxel-based morphometry]] studies have allowed researchers to identify [[wikt:bilateral|bilateral]] abnormalities in neural volume in areas of the brain associated with motor functions, such as the caudate nucleus, in the affected members of the KE family when compared to the unaffected family members. This volume reduction showed a high correlation between reduced volume and tests of [[oral praxis]], supporting the idea that odd development of the caudate nucleus is related to the problems in motor control observed in the KE family.<ref name="Vargha-Khadem 2005"/>

Due to the vague nature of the diagnosis of expressive language disorder, there is little specific scientific research that we can currently locate. A larger body of research exists around neuroscientific studies with children diagnosed with a specific language impairment (SLI). fMRI studies have shown that children with SLI have a significantly smaller left hemispheric pars triangularis (Broca's area) and asymmetry of dominance of language structures, as opposed to the more typical left hemisphere dominance.<ref name="Gauger 1997">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gauger LM, Lombardino LJ, Leonard CM | title = Brain morphology in children with specific language impairment | journal = Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research | volume = 40 | issue = 6 | pages = 1272–1284 | date = December 1997 | pmid = 9430748 | doi = 10.1044/jslhr.4006.1272 }}</ref> Scientists are beginning to elucidate differences in activation patterns in children with SLIs using neuroimaging techniques to capture brain activity while performing different cognitive tasks. A major observation is lack of left hemisphere lateralization in major language structures such as the inferior frontal gyrus-opercularis, inferior frontal gyrus-triangularis, supramarginal gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. The same study reported hypoactivation and hyper activation of other brain regions - the supramarginal junction and anterior insula, respectively.<ref name="de Guibert 2011">{{cite journal | vauthors = de Guibert C, Maumet C, Jannin P, Ferré JC, Tréguier C, Barillot C, Le Rumeur E, Allaire C, Biraben A | title = Abnormal functional lateralization and activity of language brain areas in typical specific language impairment (developmental dysphasia) | journal = Brain | volume = 134 | issue = Pt 10 | pages = 3044–3058 | date = October 2011 | pmid = 21719430 | pmc = 5331119 | doi = 10.1093/brain/awr141 }}</ref> Other in-depth imaging studies report finding previously undiagnosed lesions in the brains of children with well-characterized developmental language development.<ref name="Webster 2008">{{cite journal | vauthors = Webster RI, Erdos C, Evans K, Majnemer A, Saigal G, Kehayia E, Thordardottir E, Evans A, Shevell MI | title = Neurological and magnetic resonance imaging findings in children with developmental language impairment | journal = Journal of Child Neurology | volume = 23 | issue = 8 | pages = 870–877 | date = August 2008 | pmid = 18660471 | doi = 10.1177/0883073808315620 | s2cid = 206547104 }}</ref> Together, these findings strongly suggest that language impairments are the result of an underlying neurological defect in an area of the brain related to language.

Studies looking at long-term outcomes for individuals with specific language impairments such as expressive language disorder track these individuals from childhood to adulthood. As Whitehouse and his colleagues <ref name="Whitehouse 2009">{{cite journal | vauthors = Whitehouse AJ, Watt HJ, Line EA, Bishop DV | title = Adult psychosocial outcomes of children with specific language impairment, pragmatic language impairment and autism | journal = International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders | volume = 44 | issue = 4 | pages = 511–528 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19340628 | pmc = 2835860 | doi = 10.1080/13682820802708098 }}</ref> suggest, "When childhood language problems persist into adulthood, they can have far reaching consequences in terms of academic, social and vocational outcomes." These researchers found that children diagnosed with an SLI would have persistent problems with language and are more likely to pursue vocational training rather than university, thereby avoiding professions requiring high levels of literacy. A lower socioeconomic status was also noted by adults who were diagnosed with an SLI as a child. Whitehouse <ref name="Whitehouse 2009"/> also reported that these adults had more difficulties in establishing friendships, most likely due to a decreased ability to express themselves socially.