INITIAL PSYCHIATRIC REFERRAL AGES IN PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AND COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

Objective:

The age at initial psychiatric referral of children with speech delay is important for early diagnosis and intervention of causative developmental disorders. The purpose of this study was to compare the ages and developmental properties at the initial clinical referral of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) and communication disorders (CDs).

Method:

The sample of the study consisted of 127 cases with PDDs and 58 cases with CDs who referred to the department of child and adolescent psychiatry of GATA with speech delay. The age and clinical data at the initial referral were assessed retrospectively using the patient's records.

Results:

There were no statistically significant differences between the sex ratio, age at initial referral, walking time, perinatal complications, hand perference, and parents' education levels between the PDD patients and the CD patients. The age at initial referral wasn't different among the subgroups of CDs. The CD cases who have a history of specific perinatal complication had earlier referral than those without a perinatal complication, but PDD cases showed no difference. In PDD group, a significant negative correlation was detected between the mother's education level and the first referral age of the children.

Discussion:

We suggest that the most common parental concern at initial referral is delayed speech or language development in both group of disorders, because there was no significant difference between PDD and CD groups in terms of their first referral age. Giving information about autistic symptoms other than speech-language problems to general practitioners and families, as well as performing screening programs may provide earlier identification of these disorders.