Developmental language disorder in Chinese children: A systematic review of research from 1997 to 2022

Abstract

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. The influences of DLD on language development have been delineated in detail in English. The same is not true for Chinese, a group of Sinitic languages with distinct typological features that may modify the profile of DLD crosslinguistically. We conducted a systematic search of English and Chinese journal databases and reviewed 59 studies on the manifestations of DLD in Chinese. Methodological quality appraisal of the literature revealed several areas of improvement to enhance transparency and replicability. A bibliometric analysis indicated a steep growth trajectory of this literature. Examination of the participant selection and diagnostic criteria revealed limitations and calls for the development of assessment tools and increased knowledge of evidenced-based diagnostic practice. Areas of deficits demonstrated by Chinese children with DLD were synthesized qualitatively and discussed in light of the literature on clinical markers of DLD in English.