Predicting Poor-Communication Status in Preschool Children Using Risk Factors Present at Birth

Abstract

The speech and language status of 662 children between the ages of 30 months and 5 years was determined through the use of parent report information. Twelve of these children were reported by their parents to have been diagnosed as having a speech-language disorder, and 50 of these children were found to be at or below the 10th percentile in language development for children of their age. Information about family background and birth history obtained when these children were born was evaluated with respect to its power to predict speech-language status in these preschool children. A set of risk criteria was found to accurately predict 55% of those children with poor communication skills and 76% of those with normal communication development. This prediction was improved by the addition of data about the child’s birth order. These results suggest that programs of preschool identification should consider the inclusion of a registry of children who are at risk for a communication disorder.

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

“…37,39,42 Three 37,41,43 of 5 studies reported an association between lower maternal education level and language delay, and 3 studies 41-43 of 4 that evaluated paternal education level reported a similar relationship. Other associated risk factors that were reported less consistently included childhood illnesses, 36,40 born late in the family birth order, 42 family size, 39 older parents 39 or younger mother 43 at birth, and low socioeconomic status (SES) or minority race. 40 One study that evaluated history of asthma found no association with speech and language delay.…”

“…Nine studies conducted in English-speaking populations [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] and 7 studies from non-English-speaking populations 45-51 met inclusion criteria ( Table 2). The most consistently reported risk factors include a family history of speech and language delay, male gender, and perinatal risk factors; however, their role in screening is unclear.…”

“…English-language studies include case-control, 37,39-41,43 cross-sectional, 36,38,42 and prospective-cohort 44 designs. Most studies evaluated risk for language delay with or without speech delay, and 1 restricted the evaluation to expressive language only.…”

“…44 Family history was the most consistent significantly associated risk factor in 5 of 7 studies that examined it. 37,39,[41][42][43] Family history was defined as family members who were late to talk or had language disorders, speech problems, or learning problems. Male gender was a significant factor in all 3 of the studies that examined it.…”

Translational research on early language development: Current challenges and future directions

“…Tomblin, Hardy, and Hein (1991) have suggested that information regarding children's biological and family risk status could help clinicians identify those at greater risk for communicative impairments more clearly. For instance, in their retrospective study of the speech and language status of 662 children between 30 months and 5 years of age, a set of multiple risk factors comprising various family background and birth history variables predicted 55% of children with poor communication skills and 76% of those with normal communicative development (Tomblin et al, 1991).…”