Related Experiment Videos
Screening for primary speech and language delay: a systematic review of the literature
Insights
This review found insufficient evidence to support universal screening for speech and language delays in young children. Further research is needed to guide effective child health surveillance strategies.
Area of Science:
- Child Health Surveillance
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Speech and Language Pathology
Background:
- Child Health Surveillance programmes in the UK incorporate screening for developmental conditions like speech and language delay.
- Current screening practices vary significantly across the country, raising concerns among service providers.
- The effectiveness and necessity of universal screening for early identification of these delays require thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if existing evidence supports universal screening for speech and language delays in children up to seven years old.
- To identify limitations and gaps within the current body of research on this topic.
- To pinpoint priority areas for future research and provide evidence-based recommendations for service delivery.
Main Methods:
- A hypothesis-driven systematic review of available literature was conducted.
- The review focused on evidence pertaining to the efficacy and justification of universal screening.
- Analysis aimed to identify research gaps and inform future service provision.
Main Results:
- The review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant the introduction of universal screening for speech and language delays.
- Significant gaps in the literature were identified, highlighting a need for further investigation.
- Specific priority areas for future research were highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the widespread implementation of universal screening for speech and language delays.
- Further research is essential to address identified literature gaps and inform best practices.
- Evidence-based recommendations are needed to guide the future development of child health surveillance services for developmental conditions.
Abstract:
Screening young children for developmental conditions such as speech and language delay is considered to be a part of the Child Health Surveillance programme in the UK. It is currently practised in many different ways throughout the country and like screening for other conditions conventionally identified in infancy, has been the subject of some concern for those responsible for providing such services. This systematic review (Law et al. 1998) was hypothesis driven and aimed to: i) establish whether, given the available evidence, there was sufficient evidence to warrant the introduction of universal screening for speech and language delays in children up to seven years of age; ii) identify gaps in the available literature; iii) identify priority areas in need of further investigation and iv); provide evidence-based recommendations for the future provision of services.