Screening for language and speech delay in children under five years.
1Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. sophjullien@gmail.com.
BMC Pediatrics
|September 9, 2021
Summary
Universal screening for childhood language and speech delay lacks evidence of effectiveness and potential harms. Targeted interventions show some benefit, but their impact on screened children is unproven.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Language and speech delays affect young children's development.
- Early detection through screening is often recommended.
- Evidence on the effectiveness of universal screening is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on universal screening for language and speech delay in children under 5.
- To assess short- and long-term outcomes of screening and interventions.
- To evaluate the accuracy of screening tools and potential harms.
Main Methods:
- Literature search up to November 2019.
- Systematic review of recommendations and evidence.
- Summarized accuracy of screening tests and efficacy of interventions.
Main Results:
- Screening tools vary widely in accuracy.
- Targeted interventions improve some outcomes, but evidence for screened children is lacking.
- No evidence shows universal screening improves outcomes or identifies harms.
Conclusions:
- The effectiveness of universal screening for language and speech delay is not established.
- More research is needed on the benefits and harms of screening and interventions.
- Current evidence does not support universal screening in primary care settings.
