title: Co-occurrence of developmental delays in a screening study of 4-year-old Finnish children.
abstract: The aim of this population study was to examine the severity and prevalence of co-occurring developmental delays in 4-year-old children, the rate of overlapping problems, and sex differences. A sample of 434 children (196 males, 238 females; mean age 4 years 3 months, SD 1 month) were administered the 'Lene' test: a comprehensive neurodevelopmental screening test. Results suggest that co-occurrence of attention-behavioural, motor-perceptual, and language delays occurring in school-aged children could already be detected at the age of 4 years. Isolated delays were usually mild, but co-occurring difficulties were mostly moderate or severe. Overlap between developmental delays depended on the severity of the problems. It emerged that males had more severe and more often co-occurring problems than females. Co-occurrence of developmental delays as a risk factor at the early stage of development is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. riitta.valtonen@pp.inet.fi
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valtonen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahonen
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lyytinen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lyytinen
mesh_terms: D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*