Comprehension and production of gestures by children with normal and impaired language at ages 4, 5, and 6.

12 children with normal verbal language, ages 4, 5, and 6, were matched with 12 children with impaired verbal language. When the two groups were compared for comprehension and production of nonverbal gestures as well as verbal language, the latter group scored more poorly in both areas. Implications for speech-language pathologists and other professionals in the assessment and remediation of language in language-impaired children are mentioned.