Correlation between risk factors that influence the development of children's language.
Marianna Momoe Nanakuma Matsumoto, Heloisa Adhmann Ferreira, Isabelly Bueno Araujo and 2 others
PMID 39879429WHAT IT FOUND
Children with altered language screening scores waited an average of 20.10 months for help.
Lower family income and less parental time with the child were linked to longer delays. Altered maternal and child temperament associated with screening failures.
Key findings
01The average time interval between a parent's first complaint and seeking speech therapy services was 20.10 months.
02A statistically relevant association was found between the time interval to seek help and the family's socioeconomic status.
03Altered maternal temperament and altered child temperament showed statistically relevant associations with altered language screening results.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is retrospective and relies on parent-reported data for risk factors and complaint timing, which may be subject to recall bias. The sample size for some subgroup analyses was small, and the authors noted that sample size may influence results for pre, peri, and postnatal complications. The study did not control for many confounding variables, so associations cannot be interpreted as causal relationships. The exclusion of 20 participants who did not report the age of first complaint, and 6 others with hearing loss or syndromes, limits the generalizability of the time-interval analysis.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that low parental education or male gender caused the language delays. The study shows associations, not causation, and many factors like temperament and socioeconomic status are intertwined. Also, do not rely on the non-significant trend for 'time spent with child' as a definitive risk factor without further evidence.