Evaluation of the child with delayed speech or language

Because of the relative frequency of speech/language delay, all infants and preschool children should undergo routine language screening as part of health care maintenance. Diagnostic evaluation of the child with speech or language delay should answer the following questions: What is the child's descriptive diagnosis (eg, hearing impaired, mentally retarded, DLD, etc.)? What is the child's etiologic diagnosis (eg, congenital viral infection, single gene disorder, birth asphyxia, etc.)? What is the appropriate intervention strategy (amplification, orally based speech therapy, total communication, "infant stimulation" program, etc.)? What is this child's long-term prognosis, to the extent that this is knowable? All children with speech or language delay should undergo formal audiologic testing, regardless of how well the child seems to hear in an office setting, and regardless of whether other disabilities are present which might independently explain the speech/language delay. Evaluation by a psychologist, a speech/language pathologist, or both should follow, with referral to an appropriate intervention program based upon the results of formal developmental testing. Additional medical evaluation (eg, CAT scan, EEG, karyotype), and genetic counseling must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Long-term follow-up should include an awareness that speech or language delay during the preschool years often signifies long-term developmental difficulties, warranting close follow-up of such children as they advance through the school age years.