The current stage of the Study

We are currently investigating the interpersonal and educational uses of information and communication technology (ICT) among adolescents with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). We are particularly interested in new media use for interpersonal, communicative purposes and also new media use for educational, learning purposes.

This stage of the study will examine factors that may affect interpersonal and educational uses of ICT in young people with SLI. Specifically, we will examine the relationship between the formal vs. informal demands of the context (interpersonal vs. educational) and frequency of use, ease of use and attitudes towards use of new media.

We will also investigate the relationship between the language/literacy abilities of young people with SLI and new media use. We will also aim to investigate the possible communicative and social benefits of interpersonal new media as a function of the nature of impairments in SLI.

Specifically, we will investigate the relationship between shyness and sociability and oral vs. text based new media use and the relationship between patterns of friendship in everyday life and oral vs. text based new media use.