Quality of life in children with developmental language disorder. 2018

Patricia Eadie, and Laura Conway, and Birgit Hallenstein, and Fiona Mensah, and Cristina McKean, and Sheena Reilly
Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is common in children, but little is known about its association with quality of life (QoL) in middle childhood. QoL is a complex construct, aligning with an individual's sense of well-being and is related to functional limitations associated with DLD. Biopsychosocial models of disability account for both the extent and functional limitations of the impairment; however, the DLD literature rarely reports on both aspects. Studies are required that detail QoL in children with and without DLD. To investigate the association between DLD, identified at 4 years and persisting at 7 years, and QoL over 4, 7 and 9 years; to compare QoL for children whose DLD was mild to moderate and severe at 7 years; and to investigate how variables known to impact on language development (e.g., maternal vocabulary), as well as social-emotional behaviours at 4 and 7 years contribute to QoL at 9 years. The analyses included 872 children who participated in the 4-, 7- and 9-year data collection of the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS). We compared the parent-reported QoL profiles at 4, 7 and 9 years for children with and without DLD, and those with mild to moderate and severe DLD using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). We conducted regression analyses to estimate how child, family and environmental factors predicted QoL at 9 years, including social-emotional behaviours measured using the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 4 and 7 years. Children with DLD (n = 70) had lower parent-reported QoL at 9 years than typically developing children (n = 802), with mean scores of 74.9 and 83.9 respectively. There was no evidence of differences in QoL between those with severe (n = 14) or mild to moderate (n = 56) DLD. In contrast to their peers, children with DLD had a profile of declining QoL between 4 and 9 years. For all children, language skills at 7 years predicted QoL at 9 years. For children with DLD, emotional symptoms and peer problems at 4 years plus SDQ Total Difficulties at 7 years were predictive of lower QoL at 9 years. Children with DLD had a lower QoL than their typical peers at 9 years and, contrary to previous studies, differences in QoL were not observed with DLD severity. Co-occurring social-emotional problems appear to play an important role in contributing to the lower QoL experienced by children with DLD. Consideration of associated functional limitations is required to support the communication and social development of all young children with DLD.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007804 Language Development The gradual expansion in complexity and meaning of symbols and sounds as perceived and interpreted by the individual through a maturational and learning process. Stages in development include babbling, cooing, word imitation with cognition, and use of short sentences. Language Acquisition,Acquisition, Language,Development, Language
D007805 Language Development Disorders Conditions characterized by language abilities (comprehension and expression of speech and writing) that are below the expected level for a given age, generally in the absence of an intellectual impairment. These conditions may be associated with DEAFNESS; BRAIN DISEASES; MENTAL DISORDERS; or environmental factors. Language Delay,Speech Delay,Auditory Processing Disorder, Central,Central Auditory Processing Disorder,Developmental Disorder, Speech or Language,Developmental Language Disorders,Language Disorders, Developmental,Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder,Speech or Language, Developmental Disorder,Delay, Speech,Delays, Speech,Development Disorder, Language,Developmental Language Disorder,Disorder, Language Development,Disorders, Language Development,Language Delays,Language Development Disorder,Language Disorder, Developmental,Semantic Pragmatic Disorder,Semantic-Pragmatic Disorders,Speech Delays
D008137 Longitudinal Studies Studies in which variables relating to an individual or group of individuals are assessed over a period of time. Bogalusa Heart Study,California Teachers Study,Framingham Heart Study,Jackson Heart Study,Longitudinal Survey,Tuskegee Syphilis Study,Bogalusa Heart Studies,California Teachers Studies,Framingham Heart Studies,Heart Studies, Bogalusa,Heart Studies, Framingham,Heart Studies, Jackson,Heart Study, Bogalusa,Heart Study, Framingham,Heart Study, Jackson,Jackson Heart Studies,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Surveys,Studies, Bogalusa Heart,Studies, California Teachers,Studies, Jackson Heart,Studies, Longitudinal,Study, Bogalusa Heart,Study, California Teachers,Study, Longitudinal,Survey, Longitudinal,Surveys, Longitudinal,Syphilis Studies, Tuskegee,Syphilis Study, Tuskegee,Teachers Studies, California,Teachers Study, California,Tuskegee Syphilis Studies
D008297 Male Males
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D011788 Quality of Life A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease. HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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