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Screening for language delay in the United Arab Emirates
1Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. veapen@uaeu.ac.ae
Child: Care, Health and Development
|August 24, 2004
Summary
Developmental language delay (DLD) affects nearly 10% of UAE toddlers. Key risk factors include rural living, maternal nationality, and family income, highlighting unique socio-cultural influences requiring targeted screening and intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Child development
- Pediatric neurology
- Public health
Background:
- Developmental language delay (DLD) is common in toddlers but understudied in the Arabian Peninsula.
- This study investigates DLD prevalence and correlates within the UAE population.
- Part of a broader community psychiatric survey in the UAE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of DLD in 3-year-old children in the UAE.
- To identify psychosocial and socio-cultural correlates associated with DLD.
- To inform screening and intervention strategies for DLD in the region.
Main Methods:
- Screened 694 three-year-old children representative of the UAE population.
- Utilized the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and a specific language screening procedure.
- Employed stepwise multiple logistic regression to identify significant risk factors.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of DLD was 9.9% (language sector of DDST) and 6.5% (general language disability).
- Associated factors included rural living, maternal nationality, childcare arrangements, family history, perinatal issues, and behavioral problems.
- Significant predictors for general language delay were maternal non-UAE nationality and family income.
Conclusions:
- DLD patterns in the UAE align with global findings but reveal unique socio-cultural risk factors.
- Identified risk factors necessitate tailored screening and referral protocols.
- Findings support the need for community-specific interventions for DLD.