title: Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of children at age 6 and 7 years who screened positive for language problems at 30 months.
abstract: We present a prospective study at school age of neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of language delay suspected at child health screening around 30 months of age. In a community sample, 25 children (21 males, 4 females) screening positive and 80 children (38 males, 42 females) screening negative for speech and language problems at age 30 months were examined in detail for language disorders at age 6 years. The screen-positive children were then followed for another year and underwent in-depth neuropsychiatric examination by assessors blind to the results of previous testing. Detailed follow-up results at age 7 years were available for 21 children. Thirteen of these 21 children (62%) had a major neuropsychiatric diagnosis (autism, atypical autism, Asperger's syndrome, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]), or combinations of these. Two further children (10%) had borderline IQ with no other major diagnosis. We conclude that children in the general population who screen positive for speech and language problems before age 3 years appear to be at very high risk of autism spectrum disorders or ADHD, or both, at 7 years of age. Remaining language problems at age 6 years strongly predict the presence of neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders at age 7 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. carmela.miniscalco@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miniscalco
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.forename: Bibbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kadesjö
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gillberg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007807:Language Tests; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index