The Validity of Discrepancy Criteria for Identifying Children with Developmental Language Disorders

Empirical data from two studies address the clinical validity of discrepancy criteria for identification of children with developmental language disorders (DLD). Study 1 involved 256 preschoolers clinically defined as DLD and meeting inclusionary criteria for normal hearing, intellectual, neurological, and psychiatric status. Application of alternative psychometrically derived discrepancy criteria identified only 40% to 60% of the clinically defined group as language disordered. Study 2 applied nonverbal IQ-language performance discrepancy criteria to 368 eight-year-old, randomly selected control subjects, resulting in over 45% of the controls being identified as DLD. Factors contributing to underidentification in Study 1 and over-identification in Study 2 are discussed, raising questions regarding the validity of discrepancy criteria for identification of DLD children.