Development problems were common five years after positive screening for language disorders and, or, autism at 2.5 years of age

Miniscalco, C., Fernell, E., Thompson, L. , Sandberg, E., Kadesjö, B. and Gillberg, C. (2018) Development problems were common five years after positive screening for language disorders and, or, autism at 2.5 years of age. Acta Paediatrica, 107(10), pp. 1739-1749. (doi: 10.1111/apa.14358) (PMID:29637606)

Abstract

Aim: This study identified whether children who had screened positive for either developmental language disorder (DLD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the age of 2.5 years had neurodevelopmental assessments five years later. Methods: Our study cohort were 288 children born from 1 July 2008 to 20 June 2009 who screened positive for DLD and, or, ASD at 2.5 years. Of these, 237 children were referred to, and assessed, at the Paediatric Speech and Language Pathology clinic (n = 176) or the Child Neuropsychiatry Clinic (n = 61) at the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Clinical registers covering all relevant outpatient clinics were reviewed five years later with regard to established diagnoses. Results: When the 237 were followed up five years later, 96 (40%) had established neurodevelopmental disorders or problems, often beyond DLD and ASD. Co‐existing problems were common in this cohort and multidisciplinary assessments were indicated. The other 60% did not appear in subsequent clinic records. It is likely that this 40% was a minimum rate and that more children will be referred for developmental problems later. Conclusion: Five years after they had been screened positive for DLD and, or autism at2.5 years, 40% of our cohort had remaining or other developmental problems.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Financial support was received from the Local Research and Development Council of the Vastra Gotaland Region, Sweden, the Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation, The Life Watch Award, Niclas Oberg Foundation, the Perand Annmari Ahlqvist Foundation and the Birgit and StenA Olsson Foundation.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thompson, Dr Lucy and Gillberg, Professor Christopher
• Authors: Miniscalco, C., Fernell, E., Thompson, L., Sandberg, E., Kadesjö, B., and Gillberg, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Acta Paediatrica
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0803-5253
• ISSN (Online): 1651-2227
• Published Online: 10 April 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Foundation Acta Paediatricia
• First Published: First published in Acta Paediatrica 107(10):1739-1749
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher