Screening language skills at 2;0
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Early screening of children at risk for language difficulties is challenging. This study aimed to analyze the specificity and sensitivity of two screening methods at 2;0 years of age. In addition, the matter of what kind of information the use of word combinations and parental concern provide for screening was analyzed. The subjects were 78 children. The screening methods used were the Finnish versions of the short-form version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (FinCDI-SF) and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales, Developmental Profile, Infant-Toddler Checklist (FinCSBS). The specificity and sensitivity of the screening methods were analyzed based on result of the Reynell Developmental Language Scales III. Both screening methods had high specificity but only moderate sensitivity. The use of word combinations and parental concern provided relevant information on early language development. The results imply that it is important to take into consideration receptive language development in early screening.
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The FinCDI-SF and FinCSBS screening tools have high specificity but only moderate sensitivity.
“The two screening tools were shown to have high specificity but only moderate sensitivity.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
Language screening at 2 years of age should assess both receptive and expressive communicative-linguistic skills.
“In line with the findings by Morgan et al. [82], this study further highlights the need for the assessment of both receptive and expressive communicative–linguistic skills in language screening at 2 years of age.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
Use of word combinations and parental concern may provide further relevant information in identifying children with weak language skills.
“The use of word combinations and parental concern may provide further relevant information in identifying children with weak language skills.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
Word combinations and parental concern are not sufficiently accurate if not associated with an assessment of the child's receptive and expressive skills.
“Nonetheless, they were not sufficiently accurate if not associated with an assessment of the child’s receptive and expressive skills.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
Questionnaires proposed to parents were found reliable and valid instruments as a first step to assess communication and language development at 24 months in Finnish children.
“(b) communication and language development at 24 months in Finnish children [83]”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
Some early predictors (communicative gestures, communicative skills, receptive and productive vocabulary size, nonverbal cognitive abilities) can be easily observed regardless of the language of the children.
“Some of the early predictors (i.e., communicative gestures [75,79,80,81,86]; communicative skills [75,82,83,86]; receptive and productive vocabulary size [67,73,75,76,82,83,85,86,87]; nonverbal cognitive abilities [73]) can be easily observed regardless of the language of the children.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [83]
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- Authors
- Vehkavuori, S.-M., & Stolt, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oulu (FI)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Vehkavuori, Suvi-Maria
- Venue
- Infant Behavior and Development
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-02
- Volume
- 50
- Pages
- 174-179
- ISSN
- 0163-6383 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2789541915
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3
- FWCI
- 4.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Infant Behavior and Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Hearing Impairment and Communication
- Keywords
- language screening, toddlers, language delay, MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory, sensitivity and specificity, receptive language development, parental concerns, word combinations, early childhood language development
- MeSH terms
- Child Development, Child Language, Child, Preschool, Communication, Female, Finland, Humans, Language Development, Male, Parents
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