Purpose: Evidence exists that changes in language performance may be an early indicator of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a harbinger of dementing disease. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of language performance in individuals at risk for MCI by virtue of age and self-concern and its relation to performance on tests of memory, visuospatial function, and mental status. Method: Eighty-three individuals 55 years or older were administered the Arizona Battery for Communication Disorders of Dementia (Bayles & Tomoeda, 1993), a standardized battery with normative data from 86 healthy older adults (HOAs) and 86 individuals with Alzheimer's dementia, the most common dementing disease. A performance criterion of 1-1.5 "SD"s below the mean of HOAs defined MCI, as recommended in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition." We hypothesized that (a) the majority of at-risk participants would score 1 "SD" or more below the mean of HOAs on 1 or more subtests and (b) language performance tests would present a greater challenge than memory, mental status, and visuospatial construction tests. Results: Both hypotheses were confirmed. Sixty-two participants (74.6%) met the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition," criteria on at least 1 subtest. Moreover, language subtests were those most likely to elicit a performance 1 SD or more below the mean of HOAs. Conclusions: Language performance deficits can appear early before impairment in episodic memory, visuospatial construction ability, or mental status in individuals at risk for MCI. Speech-language pathologists are uniquely qualified to identify subtle changes in language, and standardized language tests with normative data should be used when testing for MCI.