Co‐ocurrence of developmental delays in a screening study of 4‐year‐old Finnish children

The aim of this population study was to examine the severity and prevalence of co‐occurring developmental delays in 4‐year‐old children, the rate of overlapping problems, and sex differences. A sample of 434 children (196 males, 238 females; mean age 4 years 3 months, SD 1 month) were administered the‘Lene’test: a comprehensive neuro‐developmental screening test. Results suggest that co‐occurrence of attention‐behavioural, motor‐perceptual, and language delays occurring in school‐aged children could already be detected at the age of 4 years. Isolated delays were usually mild, but co‐occurring difficulties were mostly moderate or severe. Overlap between developmental delays depended on the severity of the problems. It emerged that males had more severe and more often co‐occurring problems than females. Co‐occurrence of developmental delays as a risk factor at the early stage of development is discussed.