Purpose Many children with developmental language disorder (DLD) have weaknesses in executive functioning (EF), specifically in tasks testing interference control and working memory. It is unknown how EF develops in children with DLD, if EF abilities are related to DLD severity and persistence, and if EF weaknesses expand to selective attention. This study aimed to address these gaps. Method Data from 78 children with DLD and 39 typically developing (TD) children were collected at three times with 1-year intervals. At Time 1, the children were 5 or 6 years old. Flanker, Dot Matrix, and Sky Search tasks tested interference control, visuospatial working memory, and selective attention, respectively. DLD severity was based on children's language ability. DLD persistence was based on stability of the DLD diagnosis. Results Performance on all tasks improved in both groups. TD children outperformed children with DLD on interference control. No differences were found for visuospatial working memory and selective attention. An interference control gap between the DLD and TD groups emerged between Time 1 and Time 2. Severity and persistence of DLD were related to interference control and working memory; the impact on working memory was stronger. Selective attention was unrelated to DLD severity and persistence. Conclusions Age and DLD severity and persistence determine whether or not children with DLD show EF weaknesses. Interference control is most clearly impaired in children with DLD who are 6 years and older. Visuospatial working memory is impaired in children with severe and persistent DLD. Selective attention is spared.

中文翻译：

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患有发展性语言障碍 (DLD) 的儿童在干扰控制、视觉空间工作记忆和选择性注意力方面是否存在困难？DLD 的发展模式以及严重程度和持续性的作用

目的许多患有发展性语言障碍 (DLD) 的儿童在执行功能 (EF) 方面存在弱点，特别是在测试干扰控制和工作记忆的任务方面。目前尚不清楚患有 DLD 的儿童 EF 是如何发展的，EF 能力是否与 DLD 的严重程度和持续性有关，以及 EF 的弱点是否扩大到选择性注意力。这项研究旨在解决这些差距。 方法每隔 1 年分 3 次收集 78 名 DLD 儿童和 39 名典型发育 (TD) 儿童的数据。在时间 1，孩子们五六岁。Flanker、Dot Matrix 和 Sky Search 任务分别测试了干扰控制、视觉空间工作记忆和选择性注意。DLD 的严重程度取决于儿童的语言能力。DLD 持续性基于 DLD 诊断的稳定性。 结果两组的所有任务表现均有所提高。TD 儿童在干扰控制方面优于 DLD 儿童。视觉空间工作记忆和选择性注意力没有发现差异。在时间1和时间2之间，DLD组和TD组之间出现了干扰控制差距。DLD的严重程度和持续性与干扰控制和工作记忆有关；对工作记忆的影响更大。选择性注意与 DLD 的严重程度和持续时间无关。 结论年龄和 DLD 严重程度和持续时间决定 DLD 儿童是否表现出 EF 弱点。6 岁及以上患有 DLD 的儿童的干扰控制能力最明显受损。患有严重和持续性 DLD 的儿童的视觉空间工作记忆受损。选择性注意不会受到影响。