Language Disorder in Preschoolers

Well-designed large population-based studies of the prevalence and correlates of learning disabilities in preschool children are rare.

A research group working out of University College London has address that issues with a large study of language disorder in a group of over 7000 4 and 5 year olds in England.

A stratified group of 529 children received a comprehensive assessment of language along with assessment of IQ, social, emotional and behavior function.

The study found the following important points.

• The prevalence of language disorders in the sample was 9.9%
• This group consisted of 7.6% with language disorder of unknown origin and 2.3% with language disorder associated with intellectual disability or known medical condition
• Language disorder diagnosis was linked to a wide array of other problems including failure to make academic progress
• A significant number of children with normal non-verbal IQ demonstrated language disorder

The authors of the study not their findings suggest that out of every classroom with 30 students, two will have significant language problems. This supports comprehensive screening early to identify these children at high-risk for academic failure.

You can read more about this study in MedicalXpress HERE.

The free full-text manuscript can be accessed HERE.

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Norbury, C., Gooch, D., Wray, C., Baird, G., Charman, T., Simonoff, E., Vamvakas, G., & Pickles, A. (2016). The impact of nonverbal ability on prevalence and clinical presentation of language disorder: evidence from a population study Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.12573