UNRECOGNIZED LANGUAGE AND SPEECH DEFICITS IN PREADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

Of 55 psychiatrically hospitalized preadolescents with DSM-III-R diagn oses that are not commonly associated with language deficits, 60% were determined to have language or speech deficits, although only 38% had ever received speech or language therapy. The clinical implications o f these findings are discussed and guidelines for practice outlined.