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Co-occurrence of developmental delays in a screening study of 4-year-old Finnish children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2004

Riitta Valtonen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Timo Ahonen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Paula Lyytinen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Heikki Lyytinen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology/Child Research Centre, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Abstract

The aim of this population study was to examine the severity and prevalence of co-occurring developmental delays in 4-year-old children, the rate of overlapping problems, and sex differences. A sample of 434 children (196 males, 238 females; mean age 4 years 3 months, SD 1 month) were administered the ‘Lene’ test: a comprehensive neurodevelopmental screening test. Results suggest that co-occurrence of attention-behavioural, motor-perceptual, and language delays occurring in school-aged children could already be detected at the age of 4 years. Isolated delays were usually mild, but co-occurring difficulties were mostly moderate or severe. Overlap between developmental delays depended on the severity of the problems. It emerged that males had more severe and more often co-occurring problems than females. Co-occurrence of developmental delays as a risk factor at the early stage of development is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
© 2004 Mac Keith Press

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