Can public infant checkups at 1.5 and 3 years take advantage of early detection of children with developmental language disorders?

• Published in: Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Japan Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 13 - 19
• Main Authors: Fukushima, Noriyuki, Masuda, Shin, Niitsuma, Yukie, Yamada, Asami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 2008
• Subjects: 1歳半児健診; 3歳児健診; developmental language disorder; early detection; public infant checkup; 早期発見; 言語発達障害
• ISSN: 0919-5858; 2186-5957
• DOI: 10.11374/shonijibi1980.29.1_13

The present study verified the probability that public infant checkups at 1.5 and 3 years of age in Japan have the advantage of detecting children with developmental language disorders. The subjects comprised 148 preschoolers who visited our office for an examination. The current checkup system has limited efficacy for the early detection of children with developmental language disorders. If the “wait and see” option were changed to a recommendation for a diagnostic workup at the 3-year checkup, the number of children referred to otorhinolaryngological offices would be increased, and the age of the first visit for children needing speech therapy would be younger than at present.