Language Disorder Persists for Many Young Children reveals Gothenburg Study
New Gothenburg-based study shows that Language Disorder persists for many young children
Language disorder or developmental language disorder (DLD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that hinders a child’s ability to learn their mother tongue(s) in the same way and at the same rate as one’s peers. Language develops as we interact with our environment and this development is driven by our need to communicate with others. Children with language disorder might have difficulties with regard to speech sounds and verbal expression, as well as learning new words and/or understanding spoken and written language. Children diagnosed with language disorder have significant difficulties in one or more of these areas, affecting their spoken language, comprehension and/or communication skills.
A group of researchers at the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg has discovered that the vast majority of children diagnosed with language delays at age 2.5 continue to experience difficulties in language development into early childhood.
New research from Gothenburg
The new study conducted in Gothenburg, Sweden and led by first author speech and language pathologist Dr. Ulrika Schachinger-Lorentzon, casts light on the long-term nature of developmental language disorders (DLD) in children. The Gothenburg-based researchers followed 100 children who showed signs of delayed language development after language screening at 2.5 years of age, excluding those with autism, to assess their neurodevelopmental outcomes and progress by age six. A review of paediatric records was carried after the language assessment to obtain information about other neurodevelopmental disorders and interventions received.
Persistent Language Difficulties
The study, recently published in the scientific journal Acta Paediatrica, revealed that 87% of the children who were assessed at the age of 6 years still continued to show signs of language disorder. Among these, nearly 25% of the children had also been diagnosed with additional neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders, and autism in five cases.
Limited Uptake of Interventions
Although intervention programs were available, families participated in only about half of the sessions offered. Noteworthy, the study revealed no discernible difference in attendance rates between monolingual and multilingual families.
— “The reasons for this low participation remain unclear, and further investigation into the barriers preventing families from engaging with intervention programs is warranted” concluded Schachinger-Lorentzon.
Appeal for Longitudinal Monitoring
The findings highlight the critical need for consistent and holistic support for children with early language delays. The researchers suggest that the high prevalence of persistent language disorders and co-occurring conditions demonstrates the significance of longitudinal monitoring to gain a richer understanding of these children's developmental trajectories.
Future plans
— “Our aim is to share our important findings with other speech and language pathology clinics throughout Sweden, as the study’s results provide crucial insights that can directly impact future policies and protocols thus helping to improve a child’s daily functioning” explains Schachinger-Lorentzon.
The study highlights important questions regarding the barriers that prevent families from fully accessing intervention services. Future research could help to identify these obstacles and explore methods to improve intervention engagement among families, ensuring better outcomes for children who are at risk of long-term developmental challenges.
This study serves as a reminder of the complex needs of children with DLD and the crucial role of early, continuous support in helping them thrive.
Link to article: Schachinger Lorentzon U, Billstedt E, Gillberg C, Miniscalco C. Persistence of the developmental language disorder diagnosis, neurodevelopmental trajectories and attendance at offered interventions. Acta Paediatr. 2024 Nov 10. doi: 10.1111/apa.17494. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39523698.
TEXT BY ANNA SPYROU
