Epidemiology and prognosis of specific disorders of language and scholastic skills

Data from a prospective longitudinal study on the development of children b orn at biological and psychosocial risk were utilised to examine language a nd learning abilities of 320 children at ages 4.5 and 8 years. Following th e research criteria of the ICD-10, specific developmental disorders of spee ch and language and specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills w ere diagnosed. Data were also provided for a clinical and general low achie vement group according to less stringent criteria. Frequencies in the risk population were low for specific disorders (ICD-10) (0.6%-3.7% depending on age and type of disorder). Higher frequencies were found when a clinical d efinition (0.6%-13.6%) or overall low achievement score (0.6%-18.6%) was ch osen. The impact of well-documented organic and psychosocial risks was anal ysed. Organic risk affected language abilities at 4.5 years of age but neit her language nor learning abilities at 8 years of age. Psychosocial aspects of a child's environment proved to be associated with both specific langua ge and learning abilities. Stability of language disorders, association bet ween language and reading/spelling disorders as well as gender effects were investigated.