OBJECTIVETo explore the mode of intervention for children with language developmental delay under the current condition of China.

METHODThe study population consisted of a cross-sectional convenience sample of 206 children, ages 13 - 24 months, from six communities of Qingpu in Shanghai. Parents were asked to complete detailed questionnaires about their child's spontaneous use of vocabularies. Fourteen children with vocabularies less than 5 percentile of every age group were identified as having language developmental delay. During the 12-month intervention, developmental pediatricians did the developmental assessment for every child and set goals of intervention for everybody according to their language abilities and family situation. Then kindergarten teachers who got the training in language therapy carried out the intervention. Gesell development scale was used for developmental assessment before and after the intervention.

RESULTSThe developmental quotient (DQ) in areas of language and personal-social behavior was elevated significantly after 12 months of intervention (P < 0.01). The developmental quotient (DQ) in the area of adaptive behavior was also elevated (P < 0.05). There was an obvious catching up effect in both areas of language and personal-social behavior. Increased developmental age in both areas was (18.0 +/- 5.3) months and (16.2 +/- 5.9) months, respectively. The language ability of 71.4% samples was in the normal range at the end.

CONCLUSIONSThe mode of medical and educational cooperation to give early intervention for children with language developmental delay is feasible. It can significantly improve the abilities in language and communication of children 1 - 2 years of age.