Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of children at age 6 and 7 years who screened positive for language problems at 30 months.

Full Abstract

We present a prospective study at school age of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of language delay suspected at child health screening around 30 months of age. In a community sample, 25 children (21 males, 4 females) screening positive and 80 children (38 males, 42 females) screening negative for speech and language problems at age 30 months were examined in detail for language disorders at age 6 years. The screen-positive children were then followed for another year and underwent in-depth neuropsychiatric examination by assessors blind to the results of previous testing. Detailed follow-up results at age 7 years were available for 21 children. Thirteen of these 21 children (62%) had a major neuropsychiatric diagnosis (autism, atypical autism, Asperger's syndrome, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]), or combinations of these. Two further children (10%) had borderline IQ with no other major diagnosis. We conclude that children in the general population who screen positive for speech and language problems before age 3 years appear to be at very high risk of autism spectrum disorders or ADHD, or both, at 7 years of age. Remaining language problems at age 6 years strongly predict the presence of neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders at age 7 years.

Author information

Author/s: Miniscalco, Carmela (C); Nygren, Gudrun (G); Hagberg, Bibbi (B); Kadesjö, Björn (B); Gillberg, Christopher (C);

Affiliation: Department of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. carmela.miniscalco(-atsign-)vgregion.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Developmental medicine and child neurology (Dev Med Child Neurol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 48 (issue 5) : pp 361-6

Dates: Created 2006/04/12; Completed 2006/06/05;

PMID: 16608544, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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