Beyond Toddlerhood: Rates of Impairment, Strengths, and Challenges in the Communication Outcomes of Former Late Talkers.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In this follow-up study, we examined outcomes of children previously identified as late talkers in toddlerhood. Our goals included determining the prevalence of language/literacy disorders in our sample and describing children's outcomes related to oral language, literacy, cognition, and speech.

Method

We administered a battery of behavioral measures to 40 English-speaking children ages 3-10 years. We used psychometrically sound tests to identify language/literacy disorders and then compared children with a disorder to those without on our other measures.

Results

Of the children we could test with confidence, 19 of 36 (52.8%) presented with a language/literacy disorder based on the Structured Photographic Expressive Language Test-Preschool, Second Edition or t

SUBMITTER: Mettler HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12908234 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature