A clinical study on children with delayed language development

Kim, Jeong Ho; Moon, Han Ku; Hah, Jeong Ok

Abstract

Delayed emergence of speech or language are frequent causes for concern about development during early childhood. Delay in evaluation and proper management until school entry in more likely to result in frustration, anxiety and school failure. Many language disturbances and their attendant behavior disorders respond to intensive language therapy. Authors analyzed the medical records of 52 children with delayed language development evaluated during 30 months from January 1986 through June 1988. The results were as follows: 1. The majority of cases were evaluated at the age of 2-2.9 year old (16 cases, 30.8%) and 3-3.9 year old (11 cases, 21.2%) 2. Male to female ratio was 3:1 3. The most common cause was mental retardation (53.8%), followed by developmental language disorder (23.1%) and autism (13.5%) 4. The most common associated condition was dysarticulation (17.3%), followed by strabismus (9.6%) and seizures (7.7%) 5. Special education was recommended in cases of 23 (44.2%), speech therapy in 12 cases (23.1%) and consultation to child psychiatry in 7 cases (13.5%) Making diagnosis of underlying disorders in not simple because assessment of intelligence in young children in difficult and only a few tests are standardized. More detailed study on children with delayed language development and development of psychometric tests for handicapped children are necessary, especially in Korea.