Diagnosis and Clinical Features of Children with Language Delay

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnosis and investigate the clinical features of children with language delay. METHOD: One hundred seventy-eight children who were referred to the Developmental Delay Clinic for the evaluation of suspected language delay were prospectively enrolled. Multidisciplinary assessment was done by a physiatrist, pediatric neurologist and pediatric psychiatrist. All patients took speech evaluation, full battery of cognitive assessment and hearing test. RESULTS: The common diagnoses of children with language delay were mental retardation (MR), specific language impairment (SLI) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the order of frequency. The early developmental history showed delay of acquisition of motor milestone in MR group. The brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) findings couldn't help to distinguish the brain pathology in SLI, MR and ASD. The result of speech evaluation showed more severely involved in ASD and MR rather than SLI. CONCLUSION: In the clinical assesment and management of the children with language delay, the comprehensive assessment which includes cognition and personal-social area as well as language itself would be helpful for the understanding and setting up the therapeutic plan of these children.