Diagnostic accuracy of parent reports for speech-language disorders in young children: a meta-analysis.

TL;DR

A meta-analysis of 26 studies (17,820 children) found that parent-report instruments for speech-language disorders in ages 0-6 years demonstrate good diagnostic accuracy, with pooled sensitivity of 0.81 and specificity of 0.83. These findings support the use of validated caregiver-report tools in primary care screening and developmental surveillance.

Key findings

• Pooled sensitivity 0.81 (95% CI 0.72-0.87) and specificity 0.83 (95% CI 0.78-0.86) for parent-report identification of speech/language disorders
• Diagnostic odds ratio of 20.17 with positive likelihood ratio of 4.68 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.23
• Age group was a significant moderator of specificity; bilingualism, administration language, and tool category were not significant moderators
• Parent-report instruments offer scalable, family-centered tools suitable for developmental surveillance and primary-care screening in early childhood

Why this matters at the bedside

Provides evidence-based guidance for pediatricians on the reliability of parent-report instruments in detecting speech-language disorders during early childhood screening and developmental surveillance in primary care settings. Good diagnostic accuracy supports their use for referral decisions.