J. Law et al., Prevalence and natural history of primary speech and language delay: findings from a systematic review of the literature, INT J LAN C, 35(2), 2000, pp. 165-188
Citations number
97
Categorie Soggetti
Rehabilitation
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
The prevalence and the natural history of primary speech and language delay
s were two of four domains covered in a systematic review of the literature
related to screening for speech and language delay carried out for the NHS
in the UK. The structure and process of the full literature review is intr
oduced and criteria for inclusion in the two domains are specified. The res
ulting data set gave 16 prevalence estimates generated from 21 publications
and 12 natural history studies generated from 18 publications. Results are
summarized for six subdivisions of primary speech and language delays: (1)
speech and/or language, (2) language only, (3) speech only, (4) expression
with comprehension, (5) expression only and (6) comprehension only. Combin
ation of the data suggests that both concurrent and predictive case definit
ion can be problematic. Prediction improves if language is taken independen
tly of speech and if expressive and receptive language are taken together.
The results are discussed in terms of the need to develop a model of preval
ence based on risk of subsequent difficulties.