title: The validity of discrepancy criteria for identifying children with developmental language disorders.
abstract: Empirical data from two studies address the clinical validity of discrepancy criteria for identification of children with developmental language disorders (DLD). Study 1 involved 256 preschoolers clinically defined as DLD and meeting inclusionary criteria for normal hearing, intellectual, neurological, and psychiatric status. Application of alternative psychometrically derived discrepancy criteria identified only 40% to 60% of the clinically defined group as language disordered. Study 2 applied nonverbal IQ-language performance discrepancy criteria to 368 eight-year-old, randomly selected control subjects, resulting in over 45% of the controls being identified as DLD. Factors contributing to underidentification in Study 1 and over-identification in Study 2 are discussed, raising questions regarding the validity of discrepancy criteria for identification of DLD children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Communication Disorders, Emerson College, Boston, MA 02116.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aram
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D007807:Language Tests