Language, Achievement, and Cognitive Processing in Psychiatrically Disturbed Children with Previously Identified and Unsuspected Language Impairments

Abstract

This study examined the language, achievement, and cognitive characteristics of 380 children, aged 7 to 14 years, consecutively referred to child psychiatric services. Among those children referred solely for psychiatric problems, 40% had a language impairment that had never been suspected. Children with previously identified and unsuspected language impairments were similar with respect to receptive and expressive language and on measures of cognitive processing. Although both groups of children with language impairments exhibited poorer academic achievement than children with normal language, children with previously identified language impairments had the lowest achievement. The milder achievement problems of children with unsuspected language impairment may explain why their problems had not been suspected. Both the clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. Heightened awareness concerning the high frequency of language impairment and other cognitive processing problems in children referred for psychiatric assessment and treatment should lead to more systematic examination of language functioning and evaluation of the impact of language and communication functioning on therapeutic outcomes.

Screening for Speech and Language Delay in Children 5 Years Old and Younger: A Systematic Review

“…14 Behavior problems and impaired psychosocial adjustment associated with speech and language may also persist into adulthood. [15][16][17] Identifying speech and language problems before children enter school can foster initiation of early interventions before these problems interfere with formal education and behavioral adjustment. AAP clinical guidelines recommend that pediatric health care providers perform surveillance at every well-child visit for children ,36 months of age; should concerns arise, screening should be administered using standardized developmental tools.…”

Screening for Speech and Language Delay in Preschool Children: Systematic Evidence Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

“…19 In addition to persistent speech-and language-related underachievement (verbal, reading, spelling), language-delayed children have also shown more behavior problems and impaired psychosocial adjustment. 20,21 Assessing children for speech and language delay and disorders can involve a number of approaches, although there is no uniformly accepted screening technique for use in the primary care setting. Milestones for speech and language development in young children are generally acknowledged.…”

Infant communication and the mother–infant relationship: The importance of level of risk and construct measurement

“…A second purpose of the study is to examine differences in clinicand non-clinic-referred infants in communicative competence. Research in older samples indicates a high incidence of communication deficits among children presenting to mental health clinics with behavioral and emotional problems (Beitchman, Nair, Clegg, Ferguson, & Patel, 1986;Cohen, Barwick, Horodezky, Vallance, & Im, 1998;Cohen, Davine, Horodezky, Lipsett, & Isaacson, 1993). It is both clinically and theoretically important to understand the circumstances and populations in which communicative and socioemotional problems are associated.…”