Sensitivity of a System of Care in Recognizing Communication Disorders in Children with Serious Emotional Disorders

This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a system of care (SOC) in identifying communication disorders in children with serious emotional disorders (SED). Speech/language screenings were completed on 39 children. Children showing possible communication disorders received comprehensive speech-language evaluations. Records were reviewed for communication disorders suspected and identified by the SOC and for services provided. Results showed that the SOC was poor in identifying communication disorders in children with SED. This study underscores the importance of SOCs addressing the needs for appropriate identification and treatment of communication disorders in children with SED.