Abstract
Summary
A group of 58 children, initially presenting with delayed speech development, were reviewed. Twenty-three were being educated in primary schools, and two in secondary schools. Two children were at schools for the deaf, and three were at schools for partially hearing children. Three children attended schools for children with disorders of language development. Nine children went to schools for the educationally subnormal, and two to units for physically and mentally handicapped children. One child was taught at home by a teacher engaged by the parents, one was attending a private school, one was of pre-school age and two were at home receiving long term assessment (awaiting placement in some type of school). Three children go to training centres and three are resident in mental subnormality hospitals. Three children have left school.
The study was concerned with the fate of children with secondary speech disorders and specific disorders of language development. Some of the problems of these various groups are considered and the need for more knowledge of their natural history is emphasised. The results of the survey confirm the persistant disabilities of many children with disorders of speech and language, and the question is posed, does language development depend on “intelligence”, or “intelligence” on the adequate development of language?