Measuring language development in pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and non-PDD children

Abstract

Background Impairments in language and related social
communication skills can be found in children with pervasive
developmental disorders (POD) and other developmental
language disorders (non-POD). These conditions lead to decision
of enrolling children with language disorders to speech therapy
despite that it is not the therapy of choice for POD.
Objectives To explore the differences in receptive language, verbal expressive language, and non-verbal expressive language between PDD and non-POD children
Methods A cross sectional study was performed in October
2008 to January 2009. Questionnaire using the MacArthur
communicative development inventory (CDI) was filled by
parents whose children were PDD and non-PDD patients aged 1
to 3 years old. The diagnosis ofPDD was based on the diagnostic
and statistical manual IV.
Results A total of 42 PDD and 42 non-POD subjects were
evaluated. There was significant difference between PDD and non
POD in receptive language [P= 0.01 (95% CI -170.63 to -24.33)
in 12 to 24 month-old subjects and P< 0.01 (95% CI -158.28
to -92.99) in > 24 to 36 month-old subjects] and non-verbal
expressive language [P= 0.01 (95% CI -20.96 to -1.96) in 12 to
24 month-old subjects and P< 0.01 (95% CI -22.65 to -10.5) in
> 24 to 36 month-old subjects]. Verbal expressive language was
not significantly different between POD and non-POD children
age 1 to 3 year-old.
Conclusions PDD children are more likely to have a delay in
receptive language and non-verbal expressive language compare to non-POD children. Verbal expressive language can not be used to differentiate POD and non-POD children.