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Lookup NU author(s): Robert Rush, Dr Jenna Charlton, Vicky Gilroy, Professor Cristina McKeanORCiD, Professor James LawORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Background and objective: Low language ability in early childhood is a strong predictor of later psychopathology as well as reduced school readiness, lower educational attainment, employment problems and involvement with the criminal justice system. Assessment of early language development is universally offered in many countries, but there has been little evaluation of assessment tools. We planned to compare the screening performance of two commonly used language assessment instruments. Methods: A pragmatic diagnostic accuracy study was carried out in five areas of England comparing the performance of two screening tools (Ages and Stages Questionnaire and Sure Start Language Measure) against a reference test (Preschool Language Scale, 5th edition). Results: Results were available for 357 children aged 23-30 months. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire Communication Scale using optimal cut-off values had sensitivity of 0.55, specificity of 0.95 and positive and negative predictive values of 0.53 and 0.95 respectively. The Sure Start Language Measure had corresponding values of 0.83, 0.81, 0.33 and 0.98 respectively. Both screening tools performed relatively poorly in families not using English exclusively in the home. Conclusions: The very widely used Ages and Stages Questionnaire Communication scale performs poorly as a language screening tool, missing over one third of cases of low language ability. The Sure Start Language Measure performed better as a screening tool.
Author(s): Wilson P, Rush R, Charlton J, Gilroy V, McKean C, Law J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMJ Paediatrics Open
Year: 2022
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Online publication date: 06/01/2022
Acceptance date: 16/12/2021
Date deposited: 16/12/2021
ISSN (electronic): 2399-9772
Publisher: BMJ Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001324
DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2021-001324
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