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Lookup NU author(s): Professor James LawORCiD
Background: Preschool language and neurodevelopmental problems often persist and impede learning. The aims of the current study are to assess the uptake of a new universal 30 month health visitor contact and to quantify the prevalence of language delay and social/emotional difficulties.Methods: All families of 30 month old children in four Glasgow localities were offered a visit from their health visitor. Structured data were collected relating to language, social and emotional development using three instruments; The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the abbreviated Sure Start Language Measure and a two-item language screen.Results: From an eligible population of 543 children, there was a 90% return rate of contact forms from the health visitors, and assessments were completed on 78% of eligible children. Visit completion rates did not differ significantly by socio-economic status. 3-8% of children were reported to have language delay depending on the method of assessment. 8.8% of children scored in the "abnormal" range of SDQ total difficulties scores and 31.1% had an abnormality in at least one subscale. There was substantial overlap between language delay and abnormal scores on the SDQ.Conclusions: Universal assessment of neurodevelopmental function at 30 months identified a significant proportion of children, including those previously considered at low risk, with both language and social/emotional difficulties. Further work is required to assess the precise nature of these difficulties and to assess the potential impact on services.
Author(s): Sim F, O'Dowd J, Thompson L, Law J, Macmillan S, Affleck M, Gillberg C, Wilson P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMC Pediatrics
Year: 2013
Volume: 13
Print publication date: 13/12/2013
Date deposited: 05/09/2014
ISSN (electronic): 1471-2431
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-206
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-206
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