Language delay is not predictable from available risk factors.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To investigate factors associated with language delay in a cohort of 30-month-old children and determine if identification of language delay requires active contact with families.

Methods

Data were collected at a pilot universal 30-month health contact. Health visitors used a simple two-item language screen. Data were obtained for 315 children; language delay was found in 33. The predictive capacity of 13 variables which could realistically be known before the 30-month contact was analysed.

Results

Seven variables were significantly associated with language delay in univariate analysis, but in logistic regression only five of these variables remained significant.

Conclusion

The presence of one or more risk factors had a sensitivity of 89% and specificity o

SUBMITTER: Wilson P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3618945 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature