Prevalence and natural history of primary speech and language delay: Findings from a systematic review of the literature
Abstract
The prevalence and the natural history of primary speech and language delays were two of four domains covered in a systematic review of the literature related to screening for speech and language delay carried out for the NHS in the UK. The structure and process of the full literature review is introduced and criteria for inclusion in the two domains are specified. The resulting data set gave 16 prevalence estimates generated from 21 publications and 12 natural history studies generated from 18 publications. Results are summarized for six subdivisions of primary speech and language delays: (1) speech and/or language, (2) language only, (3) speech only, (4) expression with comprehension, (5) expression only and (6) comprehension only. Combination of the data suggests that both concurrent and predictive case definition can be problematic. Prediction improves if language is taken independently of speech and if expressive and receptive language are taken together. The results are discussed in terms of the need to develop a model of prevalence based on risk of subsequent difficulties.
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Early identification of children without speech or language delays is easier than identification of children with delays.
“early identification of children without speech or language delays is easier than the identification of children with delays.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
Specificity of screening instruments remains high with age.
“whereas specificity remains high.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
Not all screening instruments have shown adequate levels of sensitivity and specificity.
“Summarizing the data on the psychometric properties of the screening instruments, not all the tests have shown adequate levels of sensitivity and specificity.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
In screening instruments, sensitivity is usually lower than specificity.
“Usually, sensitivity is lower than specificity (even if this can vary depending on the test)”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
Sensitivity of screening instruments tends to improve with age.
“sensitivity tends to improve with age”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
Screenings based on speech show higher Likelihood Ratio values at lower ages.
“Screenings based on speech show higher Likelihood Ratio values at lower ages”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
There does not seem to be sufficient evidence for the introduction of universal screenings.
“In conclusion, there does not seem to be sufficient evidence for the introduction of universal screenings.”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
Screenings based on language only show higher Likelihood Ratio values at older ages.
“whereas screenings based on language only do at older ages [65].”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
The issue of early identification requires the previous solution of other issues, namely the need to distinguish between children with speech and language disorders and late talkers in a pre-symptomatic phase, likely in the 1 to 4-year-old age range.
“As the authors explicitly pointed out, the issue of early identification requires the previous solution of other issues, namely the need to distinguish between children with speech and language disorders and late talkers in a pre-symptomatic phase (likely in the 1 to 4-year-old age range).”
From Developmental Language Disorder: Early Predictors, Age for the Diagnosis, and Diagnostic Tools. A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as [65]
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- Authors
- Law, J., Boyle, J., Harris, F., Harkness, A., & Nye, C.
- Affiliations
- City, University of London (GB)
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- University of Central Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Law, James
- Venue
- International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2000-04-06
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 165-188
- ISSN
- 1368-2822 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-6984
- OpenAlex
- W4386490744
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 0.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Voice and Speech Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Stuttering Research and Treatment
- Keywords
- prevalence, natural history (disease), speech delay, language delay, expressive language, receptive language, case definition, screening
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