Factors Affecting Language Development in the Context of Childhood Trauma: A Scoping Review

Purpose: Early traumatic events, such as maltreatment (i.e., abuse and/or neglect) or exposure to violence, are associated with wide-ranging impacts on children's development, including their language skills. The purpose of this review was to determine the current state of knowledge in the area of children's language development in the context of childhood trauma; how the type, timing, and duration of trauma affect language outcomes; and what other individual, family, or community factors are considered in the literature. Method: A scoping review was carried out to identify relevant literature related to language, trauma, and childhood. The initial database search yielded 5,253 articles, and 115 studies were included in the final sample. Results: Literature in the areas of maltreatment, refugee experiences, institutionalization, adversity, homelessness and eviction, harsh punishment, and community violence were represented. Language difficulties were reported across the included trauma types; among the types of maltreatment, neglect was shown to have the greatest impact on language outcomes. In general, earlier age of onset, longer duration, and greater severity of trauma were associated with more severe language difficulties. Individual, family, and community variables reported in the literature are also discussed, and gaps in the literature are identified. Conclusions: These findings underscore the pressing need for speech-language pathologists to consider the multifactorial nature of language development in the context of trauma and for the implementation of trauma-informed practices. Recommendations for future research are presented. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.31014589