The value of speech-language assessment in the diagnosis of child abuse.
Language deficits and developmental delays may be helpful clues in the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect. Speech-language assessment of 27 children burned through abuse or neglect identified 22 (81%) with language delays. Other significant trends included a decreased attention span, inappropriate affect, irritability, and withdrawn behavior. We recommend speech-language assessment for all burned children suspected to be victims of abuse or neglect as part of the abuse team investigation and to identify children who may benefit from intervention.
Hammond
J
J
Department of Surgery (Burn Center), Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida.
Nebel-Gould
A
A
Brooks
J
J
D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002652:Child Behavior; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development