Diagnostics of developmental language disorders in a walk-in clinic: Demands and reality

Abstract

In a 3-year period, 29 children with language impairments – referred to the former Department of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology (University Hospital Goettingen; in the meantime closed) by practicing paediatricians, otorhinolaryngologists or general practitioners – were presented for psychological examination (testing) by the phoniatric doctors. Of these language impaired-children, 55% (16 of 29) had comorbid dysfunctions or associated disorders. Their relevance for the individual development of a language-impaired child can hardly be observed respectively diagnosed by only one professional group. However, the phoniatric doctors within the Department saw little need for professional psychological diagnostics/differential diagnostics in this clientele, although such is obligatory according to ICD-10 having regard to exclusion and discrepancy criteria. In the majority of cases, the selective psychological referral to norm-referenced developmental diagnostics came after supposed unsuccessful language treatment. Nineteen children were introduced to the psychologist as therapy-non-responders respectively to clarify the question whether the language therapy should be continued or to investigate special educational needs. To achieve the aim of a stronger integration of psychological professional competence in the diagnostics of developmental language disorders reasons for the low rate of referrals to clinical psychologists are discussed together with possible implications.