Language, Social Cognitive Processing, and Behavioral Characteristics of Psychiatrically Disturbed Children with Previously Identified and Unsuspected Language Impairments

Abstract

This study examined characteristics of social cognitive processing, psychiatric disorder, and behavioral ratings of 380 children aged 7 to 14 years who had been referred consecutively for child psychiatric services with identified and unsuspected language impairments and with normally developing language. The results indicated that children with language impairments generally exhibited greater deficits in social cognitive processing, and particularly emotion decoding and social problem solving, than children who have language that is developing normally. Differences in psychiatric diagnosis and behavior problems were observed only between children with previously identified language impairments and children with normally developing language; children with previously identified language impairments were more likely to be diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to be rated by both parents and teachers as having more severe attentional problems. In addition, teachers rated them as more socially withdrawn. The results suggest that it is important to incorporate measures of both social cognition and language functioning routinely into clinical assessment, something that currently is rarely done.

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.…”

Voice Processing Abilities in Children with Autism, Children with Specific Language Impairments, and Young Typically Developing Children

“…These authors reported that some adults who had severe receptive language impairments in childhood had social relating difficulties in adulthood resembling those seen in mild cases of autism. It is, in addition, well known that children with SLI are at risk for behavioural and psychiatric disorder (Beitchman et al, 1996 ;Cohen et al, 1998). In the past, this has been thought to result from the negative consequences of communication difficulties.…”