Assessment of speech and language development in the young child

A clinical method of assessing speech and language development in preschool children is described. Sixty-two 3-year-old children were assessed by a pediatrician, a speech therapist, and a psychologist. In 55 children there was agreement between all three examiners. Three children with articulation problems were rated as having normal comprehensive and expressive language by the psychologist. Three children were rated as having normal speech and language development by the pediatrician and speech therapist but delayed by the psychologist; all three had behavior problems. One further child rated as having a speech and language problem by the pediatrician was rated as normal by the speech therapist and psychologist. It is concluded that pediatricians can make reliable assessments of speech and language development.