PURPOSE: To characterize the linguistic profile of children with language impairment using the Brazilian version of Test of Early Language Development - 3rd edition (TELD-3), to compare chronological and linguistic ages, and to classify the severity of the case. METHODS: The test was administered individually to 46 children diagnosed with language impairment aged between 2 years and 10 months and 7 years and 11 months, who were enrolled in weekly speech-language therapy. From the data obtained, we compared the mean chronological age and the mean equivalent linguistic age. The type of impairment was classified as mixed or purely expressive, and the severity degree was established. RESULTS: The mixed impairment was the most frequent in children with language impairment, however the classification of severity indicated that the mild category was the most frequent both in reception and expression. Linguistic age was below chronological age in most subjects, in both subtests. The expressive language was more impaired, as verified by the lower mean equivalent linguistic age, and higher concentration of subjects with impairments classified as below average and more pronounced severity. CONCLUSION: Mixed impairments were predominant in this population, with greater impairment in language expression and mild severity. Moreover, the TELD-3 proved to be a useful instrument in the diagnostic process of these language impairments.
Child language; Language tests; Language disorders; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Speech-Language Pathology
