The feasibility of universal screening for primary speech and language delay: findings from a systematic review of the literature

    Authors

    J. Law; J. Boyle; F. Harris; A. Harkness;C. Nye

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Dev. Med. Child Neurol.

    Keywords

    MILESTONE SCALE; PREDICTIVE-VALIDITY; PRESCHOOL SPEECH; DECISION RULES; CHILDREN; TESTS; RISK; VALIDATION; POPULATION; ACCURACY; Clinical Neurology; Pediatrics

    Abstract

    This paper reports on a systematic review of the literature commissioned to examine the feasibility of universal screening for speech and language delay. The results, based on an examination of productivity figures, including positive predictive ability and likelihood ratio, indicate that a number of screening tests are adequate. Sensitivity was generally lower than specificity, and study quality was inversely related to both sensitivity and likelihood ratio, suggesting that it is easier to identify accurately children who do not have language and speech problems than those who do. The review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant the introduction of universal screening at this stage. This paper discusses the type of data that would be needed to address this issue further and recommendations are made for alternative approaches to early identification.

    Journal Title

    Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

    Volume

    42

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2000

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    190

    Last Page

    200

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000086039500008

    ISSN

    0012-1622

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