Comorbidity in severe developmental language disorders: neuropediatric and psychological considerations.

• AIM: To explore possible patterns of comorbidity in children with severe developmental language disorders (DLD). METHODS: A retrospective investigation of the clinical records of 28 children relating to oral motor and language problems, psychological profiles, medical history and EEG findings. RESULTS: 36% of all the children had pure expressive language problems, 64% had combined expressive-receptive language problems and 57% had additional oral motor problems. Girls predominated in expressive-receptive problems, while boys predominated in oral motor problems. Children with expressive-receptive disorders were over-represented at the lower end of normal full-scale IQ (p = 0.015). Lower verbal than non-verbal IQ levels were almost as common as equal levels, but a lower non-verbal IQ than verbal IQ was also found. Pre/perinatal problems were found in 21%, and heredity for developmental language problems or dyslexia in 39%. There was a higher proportion of attention and motor problems, EEG abnormalities, and epileptic syndromes than in the general population (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In severe DLD, both pure expressive and mixed expressive-receptive problems are found, and oral motor problems are common. Gender differences regarding symptoms are present. Receptive language ability is associated with the full-scale IQ level. A high proportion of EEG abnormalities and epilepsy is found. There is a complex pattern of comorbidity between speech-language symptoms, psychological characteristics, heredity and EEG findings.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oto-rhino-laryngologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Otorhinolaryngology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Articulation Disorders

complications

Child

Child

Preschool

Dyslexia

complications

Electroencephalography

Epilepsy

complications

Female

Humans

Intelligence

Language Development Disorders

etiology

genetics

psychology

Male

Sex Factors

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)