Neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental outcome of children at age 6 and 7 years who screened positive for language problems at 30 months

• Published in: Developmental medicine and child neurology 2006-05, Vol.48 (5), p.361-366
• Main Authors: Miniscalco, Carmela, Nygren, Gudrun, Hagberg, Bibbi, Kadesjö, Björn, Gillberg, Christopher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Autistic Disorder; Autistic Disorder - diagnosis; Autistic Disorder - epidemiology; Child; Child Health; Cognition Disorders; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Delayed Speech; Diagnosis; Dyslexia; Dyslexia - diagnosis; Dyslexia - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Language Disorders; Language Disorders - diagnosis; Language Disorders - epidemiology; Language Tests; Learning Disorders; Learning Disorders - diagnosis; Learning Disorders - epidemiology; Male; Mass Screening; Mass Screening - methods; Methods; Motor Skills Disorders; Motor Skills Disorders - diagnosis; Motor Skills Disorders - epidemiology; Neuropsychological Tests; Original Articles; Preschool Children; Prospective Studies; Psychiatry; Psykiatri; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0012-1622; 1469-8749
• DOI: 10.1017/S0012162206000788

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.