Study Shows Language Delays at Age 5 May Lead to Mental Health Issues in Adulthood
By Denise Mann
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
June 28, 2010
Children with speech delays may be at greater risk for developing social, emotional, or behavioral problems as adults, according to a 29year study in the July issue of Pediatrics. Researchers used a standardized test to measure receptive language skills the ability to understand what others are saying among 6,941 children at age 5. Followup data were available on 72% of these children when they turned 34. Overall, children who showed signs of delays in receptive language skills at age 5 were more likely to experience mental health problems at age 34 than children who did not experience such delays. These findings were more pronounced among men than women, the study shows.
