Evaluating the association between developmental language disorder and depressive symptoms in preschool children.

This study aims to investigate the association between developmental language disorder (DLD) and depressive symptoms in preschool-aged children, building upon previous research that has demonstrated emotional difficulties in children with DLD. Forty-one children with DLD or children at risk for DLD (DLD group) and 41 children with typical language development (TLD) were included in this study. Language development was evaluated using the TEDIL test which is a Turkish adaptation of the Test of Early Language Development-3. Auto acoustic Emissions Testing and Immittance-Metric Assessment were used to exclude children with hearing impairment. Developmental delays were excluded by Denver Developmental Screening Test II. Mothers filled out the Sociodemographic Data Form and the Child Depressive Symptoms Assessment Scale. The results demonstrate that children in DLD group scored significantly higher on the Child Depressive Symptoms Assessment Scale, manifesting increased levels of aggression, separation anxiety, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and encountering greater social adaptation difficulties and deterioration in cognitive processes than TLD. Multivariate regression analysis suggests that increased impulsivity and hyperactivity, alongside social and cognitive challenges, are predictors of DLD. The study concludes that depressive symptoms are more prevalent in children in DLD group than in their typically developing counterparts. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted psychiatric and pedagogical interventions, as well as individualized educational programs that cater to the socio-emotional and cognitive needs of children with DLD.

Turkish Validation of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers.

LAY ABSTRACT: It is important to diagnose autism spectrum disorder at an early age and to start an early intervention program without delay. In this study, we aimed to validate the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in a group of Turkish children and found that the RITA-T which has been shown to be a valid and reliable screening test for 18- to 36-month-old children in studies conducted in different countries, is also valid in Turkish children. Similar to previous studies, our results showed that the RITA-T has good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder. We think that our study will contribute to the timely initiation of early intervention programs for many children with autism by enabling a valid test to be used in screening programs.