A Clinical Tool for Evaluating the Familial Basis of Speech and Language Disorders

Recently, researchers have suggested a familial basis to some speech and language disorders. Although speech-language pathologists have long noted anecdotal reports of family histories for speech and language disorders, they have not routinely or systematically collected this information and utilized it in their clinical practice. This article reports on a tool, devised through research, that assesses family history for speech, language, and learning disorders, and that can be used to construct pedigrees. This information may then be used to establish risk for speech and language disorders, to identify children for early intervention programs, and to predict outcome.