Executive functions: how do they impact developmental language disorder? A narrative review

Introduction: The study of communicative cognitive functions in children has been a focus of interest over the decades, aiming to explain the intricate relationships between language and executive functions (EF). Objective: To historically reconstruct the relationship between developmental language disorder (DLD) and executive functions (EF). Method: A narrative review was conducted of articles addressing the association between executive functions and developmental language disorder/specific language impairment. The search was performed in the databases of the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" and "PubMed" using the following syntax: (((executive function) AND (developmental language disorder)) OR (executive function)) AND (specific language impairment), without considering publication year restrictions. Conclusions: The convergence of evidence over the decades and the contemporary focus on EF provide a more comprehensive view of the relationship between DLD and executive skills. These conclusions not only enrich the understanding of the underlying processes of DLD but also have crucial implications for clinical practice.