Risk and protective factors associated with speech and language impairment in a nationally representative sample of 4- to 5-year-old children

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk and protective factors associated with speech and language impairment in a nationally representative sample of 4- to 5-year-old children

AU - Harrison, Linda

AU - McLeod, Sharynne

N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: month (773h) = April 2010; Journal title (773t) = Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. ISSNs: 1092-4388;

PY - 2010/4

Y1 - 2010/4

N2 - Purpose: To determine risk and protective factors for speech and language impairment in early childhood. Method: Data are presented for a nationally representative sample of 4,983 children participating in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (described in McLeod & Harrison, 2009). Thirty-one child, parent, family and community factors previously reported as being predictors of speech and language impairment were tested as predictors of: 1) parent-rated expressive speech/language concern and 2) receptive language concern, 3) use of speech-language pathology services, 4) low receptive vocabulary. Results: Bivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed 29 of the identified factors; however, when tested concurrently with other predictors in multivariate analyses, only 19 remained significant: nine for two to four outcomes and ten for one outcome. Consistent risk factors were being male, having ongoing hearing problems, and a more reactive temperament. Protective factors were having a more persistent and more sociable temperament, and higher levels of maternal well being. Results differed by outcome for having an older sibling, parents speaking a language other than English (LOTE), and parental support for children's learning at home. Conclusions: Identification of children requiring speech and language assessment requires consideration of the context of family life as well as biological and psychosocial factors intrinsic to the child.

AB - Purpose: To determine risk and protective factors for speech and language impairment in early childhood. Method: Data are presented for a nationally representative sample of 4,983 children participating in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (described in McLeod & Harrison, 2009). Thirty-one child, parent, family and community factors previously reported as being predictors of speech and language impairment were tested as predictors of: 1) parent-rated expressive speech/language concern and 2) receptive language concern, 3) use of speech-language pathology services, 4) low receptive vocabulary. Results: Bivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed 29 of the identified factors; however, when tested concurrently with other predictors in multivariate analyses, only 19 remained significant: nine for two to four outcomes and ten for one outcome. Consistent risk factors were being male, having ongoing hearing problems, and a more reactive temperament. Protective factors were having a more persistent and more sociable temperament, and higher levels of maternal well being. Results differed by outcome for having an older sibling, parents speaking a language other than English (LOTE), and parental support for children's learning at home. Conclusions: Identification of children requiring speech and language assessment requires consideration of the context of family life as well as biological and psychosocial factors intrinsic to the child.

KW - Communication

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Language

KW - Protective factor

KW - Risk factor

KW - Speech

U2 - 10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0086)

DO - 10.1044/1092-4388(2009/08-0086)

M3 - Article

VL - 53

SP - 508

EP - 529

JO - Journal of Speech and Hearing Research

JF - Journal of Speech and Hearing Research

SN - 1092-4388

IS - 2

ER -