Lolowa A. Al Mekaini
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Title: Expressive Language Screening of Preschool Children in United Arab Emirates
Biography
Biography: Lolowa A. Al Mekaini
Abstract
Language disorders in United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) children are underdiagnosed and their impact on children’s behavior and
emotional development is oft en overlooked. Th e aim of this study is to evaluate expressive language development in UAE preschool
children and its correlation with behavior syndromes. Total of 152 UAE toddlers (18-35 months of age) participated in the study. Two screening instruments developed by the University of Vermont were adapted linguistically and culturally before being used for data collection; (1) Language development survey for age 18-35 months; and (2) Child behavior checklist for ages 1.5-5.
Th e informant was the mother (76%). Majority of all informants were females (53%). Th e mean age (SD) of the enrolled children was 25.9 (4.8) months (median 25.9). Th ere were no signifi cant diff erences in the total vocabulary scores according to the source of information (p=0.4). No signifi cant diff erence in the total vocabulary scores (Fig.1) was found between males and females (p=0.3). The vocabulary count was signifi cant higher in females at all age groups: (56.1%, p=0.05) for body part, (69.9%, p=0.064) for places and
(53.9%, p=0.08) for clothes. Food and actions words were recorded with a higher frequency (Fig. 2). Percentage of normal vocabulary percentile score decreased with increasing age. Around 50% of children in all age group had a minimum normal vocabulary count (Table 1).Premature birth (14.9%) and a positive family history of language delay (16%) were associated with a 10% lower vocabulary score (p=0.07 and 0.09, respectively). There was a signifi cant correlation between total vocabulary scores and behavior outcomes
(externalizing syndrome, attention defi cit hyperactivity problems, and oppositional defi ant problems, p<0.001). Externalizing and oppositional defiant abnormalities were associated with a higher vocabulary score. This cross-sectional community-based study is the first objective assessment of UAE pre- school expressive language development.