Clinical characteristics and outcomes of referrals for speech and language delay to the Speech Therapy and Audiology department at a district hospital in Gauteng, South Africa.

The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2026 · Other · SLP
Lucie B L Graca, Renate Strehlau, Jacqueline K Bezuidenhout

Of 150 children referred for speech and language delay at a South African district hospital, 49.2% never returned for follow-up. Autism was the most common specialist diagnosis (52%). Bilingualism and maternal pregnancy complications showed no link to greater delay.

Key findings

1

Nearly half of assessed children (49.2%) never returned for follow-up after their initial assessment, and 18.7% of all referrals never attended their first appointment.

2

Autism spectrum disorder was the most common specialist diagnosis made at the neurodevelopmental clinic (13 children, 52%), with a mean age of ASD diagnosis of 49.54 months.

3

Children from bilingual households were not more likely to present with receptive or expressive language delay of greater than 12 months, and maternal pregnancy comorbidities showed no significant association with language delay.

MethodologyResultsClinical Relevance

Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four participants were randomized across two intervention arms and assessed at twelve weeks for the primary outcome…

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