Behavioral problems of Mandarin-speaking late-talking toddlers and preschool aged children

Abstract

This study aimed to examine whether Mandarin-speaking late-talking (LT) toddlers have a higher incidence of behavioral problems than typical language developing (TLD) children in toddlerhood and at preschool age from a community sample in Taiwan. This prospective case–control study comprised 32 LT and 32 TLD toddlers. Participants’ parents provided reports about their children at 2 and 4 years using the Child Behaviors Checklist, a component of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment. The results indicated that compared to the TLD group, a higher percentage of the LT group was at risk of behavioral problems at both two and four years. Similarly, the chance of internalizing problems was higher in the LT group than the TLD group at both ages. The findings indicated that LT toddlers are at risk for behavioral problems not only in toddlerhood, but also at preschool age. Thus, it is crucial to identify LT toddlers with behavioral problems and enroll them in early developmental evaluation programs in their communities and also include them in early intervention programs if necessary. In addition, the underlying mechanism of the association between language delay and behavioral problems in children needs to be longitudinally explored from a young age.

Specificity of phonological representations in U.S. English‐speaking late talkers and typical talkers

“…It is important to note that we utilized a definition of LT status that included two possible criteria: a child was classified as an LT if either they had a vocabulary score on the MCDI at or below the 15th percentile or they were not combining words. Using low expressive vocabulary or lack of word combinations to define LTs is consistent with definitions used in previous studies and in clinical settings (Beckage et al, 2011;Hodges et al, 2017;Lu et al, 2020;Rescorla et al, 1997;Rescorla & Schwartz, 1990). However, the youngest children in the current study were 22 months of age, which is 2 months younger than the typical criterion of not combining words by 24 months.…”

“…The MCDI is a standardized and norm‐referenced caregiver report measure of children's communication development, including expressive vocabulary and syntax. Toddlers who received a score at or below the 15 th percentile (Beckage et al., 2011; Hodges et al., 2017; Lu et al., 2020), and/or children who had no reported two‐word combinations were classified as LTs. All other children were classified as TTs.…”

“…These toddlers are sometimes referred to as “late talkers” (LTs) or children with late language emergence. In research studies and in clinical settings, toddlers are classified as LTs when they present with reduced expressive vocabulary relative to their age‐matched peers (variably defined as at or below the 10th, 15th, or 20th percentile on a parent‐reported expressive vocabulary checklist) or when they are not combining words by 2 years of age (Beckage et al., 2011; Hodges et al., 2017; Kelly, 1998; Lu et al., 2020; Rescorla et al., 1997). The long‐term outcomes for these LTs are highly variable. Approximately 20% of LTs exhibit general language skills below expected levels at 7 years of age, compared to 11% of typical talkers (TTs) (Rice et al., 2008).…”

Developmental Milestones of Infancy and Associations with Later Childhood Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

“…In terms of early-life language development and later cognitive functions, our findings are consistent with the one study in a British cohort reporting that delays in speaking in infancy were associated with lower IQ at age 8 and poorer cognitive functions at ages 26 and 53 years [ 9 ]. Three other cohort studies have reported the effect of delays in language/communication attainment on the risk of emotional and behavioral problems [ 11 , 47 , 48 ]. It is well-documented that some children are affected by co-occurring language delay and neurobehavioral problems [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Temporal stability of parent-reported behavior problems in late talkers over 2 years: a prospective case-control study from toddlerhood to preschool age

“…Internalizing and externalizing behaviors may follow different developmental pathways [18]. Previous studies found that a 2-year-old children with low receptive language abilities were at risk of internalizing behaviors [19,20]. However, whether LT toddlers with behavior problems in later developmental stages (e.g., preschool age) show temporal stability from early behavior problems was unclear.…”