Toddlers with Language Delay: Is Population-Based Screening with Brief Intervention Beneficial?

Most children achieved language scores similar to population norms with or without the intervention by age 3 years.

At age 18 months, 20% to 25% of children have delays in expressive language (few or no spoken words) in the absence of neurological, sensory, or cognitive deficits. Many of these children will be “late bloomers” and eventually develop appropriate language; however, in 5% to 8%, delays in language development persist throughout the school years and into adulthood. In a randomized population-based study, researchers examined the effects of population screening followed by a brief intervention in 1138 parent–child pairs representing all socioeconomic neighborhoods in Melbourne, Australia. Families were recruited at the 12-month visit.

When the children were age 18 months, parents completed a standardized language screening test, and 301 (26.4%)…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics