A Clinical Study on Children with Delayed Language Development - Especially Focussing on Causes -

소아 언어발달지연의 연구 - 특히 원인을 중심으로 -

Delayed emergence of speech or language are frequent causes for concern about development during early childhood. Dealy in evaluation and proper management until school entry in more likely to result in frustration, anxiety and school failure. Many language disturbances and their attendant behavior disorders respond to intensive language therapy. Authors analyzed the medical recoreds of 52 children with delayed language development evaluated during 30 months from January 1986 through June 1988. The results were as follows : 1. The majority of cases were evaluated at the age of 2-2.9 year old(16 cases, 30.8%) and 3-3.9 year old(11 cases, 21.2%) 2. Male to female ratio was 3 : 1 3. The most common cause was mental retardation(53.8%), followed by developmental language disorder(23.1%) and autism(13.5%) 4. The most common associated condition was dysarticulation(17.3%), followed by strabismus(9.6%) and seizures(7.7%) 5. Special education was recommended in cases of 23(44.2%), speech therapy in 12 cases(23.1%) and consultation to child psychiatry in 7 cases (13.5%). Making diagnosis of underlying disorders is not simple because assessment of intelligence in young children is difficult and only a few tests are standardized. More detailed study on children with delayed language development and development of psychometric tests for the handicapped children are necessary, especially in Korea.

1986년 1월부터 1988년 6월까지 30개월동안 '말이 늦다(언어발달지연)'는 것을 주소로 본원 소아과에 내원한 환아 중 언어발달지연의 진단기준에 부합하였던 52명의 아동을 대상으로 관찰하여 다음과 같은 성적을 얻었다. 1. 환아의 초진시 연령은 2-2.9세군이 16례 (30.8%), 3-3.9세군이 11례(21.2%)로 전체 환아의 반수 이상이 2-3.9세 사이에 내원했다. 2. 성별분포로는 남아가 39례, 여아가 13례로서 3:1의 비로 남아에서 많았다. 3. 원인은 지능발달지연이 28례(53.8%)로 가장 많았으며 그 외 발달성 언어장애가 12례(23.1%), 자폐증이 7례(13.5%)의 순으로 많았다. 4. 동반된 질환들로는 발음장애가 9례(17.3%)로 가장 많았고 사시가 5례(9.6%), 경련성질환이 4례(7.7%)에서 있었다. 5. 치료는 특수교육이 23례(44.2%), 언어치료가 12례(23.1%), 정신과적 자문이 7례(13.5%)에서 행해졌다.