Up to 18 percent of children are "late talkers," but the majority catch up on their language skills by the time they enter school. Less is known whether language delay is a risk factor for psychosocial problems later on.
A new study, "Late Talking and the Risk for Behavioral and Emotional Problems During Childhood and Adolescence," in the August 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online July 4), examined whether language delay at age 2 could be linked to other behavioral problems later in childhood and adolescence.
Researchers in Australia followed more than 2,800 families from birth through age 17, tracking behavioral and emotional development. Children who were late-talkers had mild levels of behavioral and emotional problems at age 2, but are at no greater risk of these problems during childhood or adolescence.
Study authors conclude these findings support a wait-and-see approach for late-talkers with otherwise normal development, but they also note the scientific evidence linking persistent language problems with psychiatric difficulties
