Cristina McKean|Darren Wraith|Patricia Eadie|Fallon Cook|Fiona Mensah|Sheena Reilly
Subgroups in language trajectories from 4 to 11 years: the nature and predictors of stable, improving and decreasing language trajectory groups
Newcastle University|Queensland University of Technology|University of Melbourne|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|University of Melbourne|Murdoch Children's Research Institute|Griffith University
background little known nature range prevalence different subgroups language trajectories extant population 4 11 years hinders strategic targeting design interventions particularly targeting whose difficulties likely persist methods childrens language abilities 4 11 years investigated specialist language longitudinal community cohort n 1910 longitudinal trajectory latent class modelling used characterise trajectories identify subgroups multinomial logistic regression used identify predictors associated language trajectories children followed results three language trajectory groups identified stable 94 participants lowdecreasing 4 lowimproving 2 range child family factors identified associated following either lowimproving lowincreasing language trajectory many shared lowimproving group associated mostly environmental risks nonenglishspeaking background social disadvantage childrens books home lowdecreasing group associated mainly biological risks low birth weight socioemotional problems lower family literacy learning disability conclusions 4 years services confident children low language remain low 11 years using rigid cutpoints language ability target interventions recommended due continued individual variability language development service delivery models incorporate monitoring time targeting according language abilities associated risks delivery continuum interventions across continuum need