A Follow-Up Study of Children Diagnosed with Delayed Speech and Language

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the current health status of children with normal peripheral hearing who were referred to the audiology clinic with complaints of speech and language delay in early childhood. Methods: The data of a retrospective file review in which the information of 105 children with normal hearing ages 12-60 months referred to the Audiology Clinic with complaints of speech and language delay were used in the study. After the initial diagnosis of delayed speech and language (approximately two years), their medical condition was assessed through semi-structured telephone interviews. The obtained data are presented with descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 105 children, 54 (51.4%) were diagnosed with other additional diagnoses including; autism spectrum disorder:21 (20%), general developmental delay: 13 (12.3%), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: 9 (8.5%), epilepsy: 4 (3.8%).7 (6.6%) of children followed from endocrine, neurology, genetics, cardiology, nephrology and ophthalmology departments. 51 children (48.57%) have achieved the average level of speech and language development with interventions such as speech and language therapy and/or social support in the following period, and they do not currently have any medical follow-up. Conclusion: The results indicated that cases where children who apply with the complaint of speech and language delay may have additional diagnoses in the future, or they can achieve the average level of speech and language development with specialist interventions. Long-term follow-up of this delay is important in terms of providing effective communication skills and the probability of being a diagnostic marker.