Prevalence, type, and correlates of psychiatric diagnoses in 200 children with communication disorder

The type and prevalence of psychiatric disorders were assessed in 200 children with speech and language disorders referred to a suburban speech and hearing clinic. Possible correlates of psychiatric disorder, including demographic factors, medical and developmental problems, psychosocial stressors, and speech and language factors, were also assessed. Standardized psychiatric and speech and language evaluations were done for all subjects, as were IQ and academic testing. Approximately 50% of the sample had some definable psychiatric disorder. The most common diagnoses were behavior disorders, followed by emotional disorders. The presence of psychiatric disorder was strongly correlated with speech and language factors, as well as psychosocial stressors. These findings have implications for primary care practitioners and speech and language therapists involved in planning treatment programs for such children.