Screening check
Should my young child be screened for a speech or language delay?
Between 3% and 16% of US children and teens have a speech or language disorder, and boys are more than twice as likely to be affected. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at screening children 5 and younger with no concerns. Check what it says for your child.
About your child
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What you will see
What the USPSTF says about speech and language screening for your child.
Educational only, not medical advice. This is not a speech or language test.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, January 2024 recommendation on screening for speech and language delay and disorders in children 5 years or younger.
Validated in
Children 5 or younger whose parents or clinicians have no specific concerns about their speech, language, hearing or development.
Limits
It is not a speech or language test. It does not cover children with concerns, a diagnosis, or a condition such as autism.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Children 5 or younger with no signs or symptoms and no parent or clinician concerns | Evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for speech and language delay and disorders | I |
This is consistent with the USPSTF's 2015 statement. The I statement is not a recommendation for or against screening (USPSTF 2024). Clinicians should use their judgment on whether and how to screen, watch for signs and symptoms, and listen to caregiver concerns (USPSTF 2024).
Why it matters
School-aged children with speech and language delays and disorders may be at higher risk of learning and literacy problems, including reading and writing, and of social and behavioral problems, some of which may last into adulthood (USPSTF 2024). Reported risk factors include male sex, a family history of speech and language impairment, low parental education, and prematurity, low birth weight or birth difficulties (USPSTF 2024). Rates are higher among Black and Hispanic/Latino children and children from households with low incomes (USPSTF 2024).
Why the evidence falls short
Screening tools are fairly accurate, with a median sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 87%, but evidence that treatment improves speech, language, school performance or quality of life was limited and inconsistent (USPSTF 2024). Many toddlers with a delay catch up without treatment: one review estimated about 60% of children with an expressive language delay and 25% with both receptive and expressive delay recovered on their own, and most tools cannot tell which delays will resolve (USPSTF 2024). No studies looked at the harms of screening, such as anxiety from further testing or labeling (USPSTF 2024).
Common questions
What do other groups recommend?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental surveillance at every well-child visit, and developmental screening with validated tools, which may include speech and language, at the 9, 18 and 30-month visits. The Canadian Task Force recommends against screening children aged 1 to 4 for developmental delay with standardized tools when there are no signs or concerns (USPSTF 2024).
What tools are used?
General developmental tools with speech and language questions, such as the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, are the most used. Others, such as the Language Development Survey, look at speech and language only (USPSTF 2024).
How is a delay treated?
With speech-language therapy, given one to one or in groups, at a clinic, school, home or by telehealth, by speech-language pathologists, educators or parents. How long and how intense depends on how severe the problem is (USPSTF 2024).
Also see the tooth decay prevention check, the blood lead test check and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Speech and Language Delay and Disorders in Children: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2024;331(4):329-334. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/speech-and-language-delay-and-disorders-in-children-age-5-and-younger-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.