Randomised controlled trial of community based speech and language therapy in preschool children.

Compared routine speech and language therapy vs 12 months of "watchful waiting" in 159 preschool children with delayed speech and language. The main outcome measures were 4 quantitative measures of speech and language, assessed at 6 and 12 months. Results show that improvement in auditory comprehension was significant in favor of therapy. No significant differences were observed for expressive language, phonology error rate, language development, or improvement on entry criterion. At the end of the trial, 70% of all children still had substantial speech and language deficits. This study provides little evidence for the effectiveness of speech and language therapy compared with watchful waiting over 12 months. Providers of speech and language therapy should reconsider the appropriateness, timing, nature, and intensity of such therapy in preschool children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)