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Estimating communication competence of infants and toddlers
Patricia B Blackwell1, Barbara M Baker
1Division of Communication Disorders, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. pbblac01@gwise.louisville.edu
Insights
Pediatric nurses can use developmental milestones in language, gesture, and social interaction to identify young children needing speech/language pathology referrals, improving early communication assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Identifying young children needing speech/language pathology referral is challenging for pediatric healthcare providers due to time constraints and the complexity of communication disorders.
- Early identification of communication problems is crucial, but unnecessary referrals incur significant costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners with practical tools for identifying children who may require speech/language assessment.
- To outline key developmental milestones in language comprehension, oral expression, gesture, and social interaction for infants and toddlers.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on early communication development and behavioral indicators for referral.
- Compilation of developmental milestones for language, gesture, and social interaction in early childhood.
- Inclusion of frequently asked parent questions and relevant resources.
Main Results:
- Specific developmental milestones in language comprehension, oral expression, gesture, and social interaction are presented as indicators for potential communication issues.
- Behavioral aspects are highlighted as potentially useful in referral decision-making.
- Parental concerns and resource information are provided to support healthcare professionals.
Conclusions:
- Developmental milestones serve as valuable guides for pediatric healthcare providers in assessing the need for speech/language pathology referrals.
- Utilizing these milestones can aid in more accurate and timely identification of children with communication challenges.
- The provided information aims to streamline the referral process and optimize resource allocation for early intervention services.
Abstract:
Identifying young children who need referral to a speech/language pathologist is difficult because of possible communication problems. The limited time available to a pediatric nurse or nurse practitioner further complicates referral decisions. Early identification is advisable, yet unnecessary referrals can be costly, both in time and money. Recent research has indicated that some aspects of behavior may be particularly useful in making referrals. This article presents developmental milestones for infants' and toddlers' language comprehension, oral expression, gesture, and social interaction, which may be considered when estimating a child's need for further assessment. Questions frequently asked by parents concerning communication and resources for additional information are also presented.