Identifying speech and language delay

Publication of the Hall report has prompted many health authorities to cut back on the range of routine child health screening programmes. In some areas health visitors are playing a less central role in child health surveillance. James Law and Carrie Pollard argue the need for routine screening of all children for speech and language delay, and that health visitors--with more adequate specialist training--should carry out these checks. Problems may persist for many years if not tackled in the pre-school years, they warn.