Case History Risk Factors for Specific Language Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose Research suggests that the best approach to early identification of children with specific language impairment (SLI) should include assessment of risk factors. However, previous attempts to develop a list for this purpose have been unsuccessful. In this study, systematic review and meta-analytic procedures were used to determine whether any case history factors can be used to identify toddlers at risk of developing SLI. Method Epidemiological studies that examined the association between risk factors and SLI were identified. Results across studies were aggregated to determine more precisely the strength of association between each risk factor and the development of SLI. The clinical significance of these factors was established via comparison to late talker status. Results Eleven risk factors were found to be statistically significant predictors of SLI. Among these, maternal education level, 5-min Apgar score, birth order, and biological sex met criteria for clinical significance. Conclusions At l...