Sensitivity to Increased Task Demands

This article explores evidence related to the idea that children with language impairments present co-occurring limitations in data-driven and conceptually driven processing. Data-driven processing (also referred to as bottom-up processing) concerns the way auditory and visual information is received. Conceptually driven processing (also referred to as top-down processing) concerns the way higher-order thinking influences performance. Together, data-driven and conceptually driven processing limitations contribute to a heightened sensitivity to increasing task demands in children with language impairments. We present assessment and intervention suggestions that pertain to these difficulties.