Nursery World - Language test may predict skills problems

Researchers have come up with new ways to spot potential problems with young children's language development. Psychologist Dr Penny Roy and co-researcher linguist Professor Shula Chiat from City University, London, used tests that assess children's ability to process language and their social and cognitive skills rather than focusing on language itself.

Psychologist Dr Penny Roy and co-researcher linguist Professor Shula Chiat from City University, London, used tests that assess children's ability to process language and their social and cognitive skills rather than focusing on language itself.

Dr Roy said that more than half of children referred to speech and language therapists usually resolve difficulties naturally by the time they start school. The study aimed to find ways to identify early on which of these children would have long-term problems.

Dr Roy said, 'Children who are referred get broad language assessments, which only tell you about language development. We came to it from a different angle, by looking at the skills that underpin language.'

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