The Cambridge Language and Speech Project (Clasp). L Detection of Language Difficulties at 36 to 39 Months

Abstract

SUMMARY A community‐based investigation of the nature, characteristics and evolution of speech and language delay in a sample of 3‐year‐olds is being carried out in Cambridgeshire. 1936 parents completed a preschool language checklist (PLC) to identify children at risk of language difficulties. Two hundred and seventy‐seven children at risk together with 148 controls completed a scries of preliminary face‐to‐face standard language tests to determine expressive, receptive and phonological skills. Concordance between the Cambridge Language and Speech Project (CLASP) identification and speech therapy involvement suggests that the overall (CLASP) screening procedure identified a number of children that current surveillance had missed and support the conclusion that the PLC may be a useful adjunct for child health care services as an aid in prioritising children for referral to speech therapy services. Children with scores of 1 to 3 at 36 months should be reviewed at 39 months, and those with 4 or more should be a high priority for referral. Preliminary examination of the impairment profile suggests that children with language impairments rather than pure speech impairments at 36 and 39 months are more likely to have a broader range of overall language‐related deficit. RÉSUMÉ Le ‘Cambridge Language and Speech Project’ (CLASP). Détection des difficultés de langage à 36 et 39 mois. Une recherche sur une population globale, sur la nature, les caractéristiques et l'évolution du retard de parole et de langage sur un échantillon ďenfants de 3 ans est actuellement menée dans le Cambridgeshire. 1936 parents remplirent une checkliste sur le langage préscolairc (PLC) en vue ďidentifier les enfants à risque de difficultés de langage. Des tests de langage standards en face à face furent pratiqués chez 277 enfants à risques et 148 contrôles pour une approche préliminaire. en vue de déterminer les capacités ďexpression, de compréhension et de phonologique. La concordance entre ľidentification par le CLASP et la pratique ďune rééducation orthophonique suggère que ľévaluation CLASP identifia nombre ďenfants que la surveillance habituelle avait négligés et conduit à penser que le PLC peut constituer une adjonction utile pour les services de PMI de façon à orienter en priorité certains enfants vers les services de rééducation orthophonique. Un examen préliminaire des profiles de troubles suggère que les enfants avec troubles du langage plutôt que de troubles isolés de parole à 36 et 39 mois sont plus exposés a des déficits ultérieurs sur tous les aspects de langage. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Das Cambridge Sprach‐ and Sprech‐Projekt (CLASP):Feststellung von Sprachschwierigkeiten im Alter von 36 bis 39 Monaten. In Cambridgeshire wurde eine Untersuchung über Art, Charakteristika und Entstehung von Sprech‐und Sprachverzögerungen bei einer Gruppe von Dreijährigen durchgeführt. 1936 Eltern füllten einen Vorschul‐Sprachbogen (PLC) aus, um Risikokindcr für Sprachschwierigkeiten zu identifizieren. 277 Risikokinder und 148 Kontrollen rriachten eine Serie ...

Investigation of Dyslexia and SLI Risk Variants in Reading- and Language-Impaired Subjects

“…The samples were assessed by one of five separate centres across the UK and were derived from both clinical and epidemiological studies. The Newcomen Centre at Guy’s Hospital, London, the Cambridge Language and Speech Project (CLASP—(Burden et al 1996)), the Child Life and Health Department at the University of Edinburgh (Clark et al 2007), the Department of Child Health at the University of Aberdeen and the Manchester Language Study (Conti-Ramsden and Botting 1999; Conti-Ramsden et al 1997). Ethical approval for these studies was provided by local ethics committees.…”

Prevalence and natural history of primary speech and language delay: findings from a systematic review of the literature

“…A propensity for marked speech and language delays to be more common in males than females is generally con rmed by the studies reviewed here. Gender ratios derived are 1.25:1 ( Randall et al 1974), 2.26:1 , 2.30:1 (Burden et al 1996), 1.25:1 for both speech and language at 4 years (Stewart et al 1986) and 2.3:1 (speech), with 1.2-1.6:1 (language) (Tuomi and IvanoV 1977). There are two exceptions to this pattern.…”

“…Researchers have commented on this issue but the inclusion criteria for this review eVectively excluded groups that might be considered as lower socio-economic status. Some of the studies were carried out in areas with a relatively advantaged population (Burden et al 1996, Rescorla et al 1993. Bax et al (1983) commented on the cumulative eVect of low SES on language delay.…”

Population-Based Screening for Language Delay: Let’s Talk STEPS Study

“…The estimated prevalence of speech and language delay ranges from 5% to 8% for children at 2 to 4.5 years (Burden, Stott, Forge, & Goodyer, 1996;Law et al, 1998). Reilly and co-workers (2007) reported a much higher prevalence, 20% for late talkers at 2 years.…”