A meta-analysis of outcomes for late talkers

The extreme variability in outcome of late talkers raises challenges both for theoretical work on the sources and development of individual differences in early language development, and for clinical/educational practice. Research on long-term outcomes is sparse but growing, though primarily focused on English. There is need for increasing the research database, and especially for integration of research across languages. We are undertaking a cross-linguistic meta-analysis of outcomes for late talkers. In addition to published and unpublished papers specifically focused on this issue, we believe there are projects which may have another primary focus, but which include an early (18-36 month) assessment of expressive vocabulary, and language and/or literacy outcomes at age 5 years or beyond. The target studies can include broadly representative samples, or late talkers specifically. If you are interested in the possibility of collaboration on this project, please contact either of us listed below. You may also find the PROSPERO registration of this project helpful in understanding our plans:

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, registration CRD42023394687.

Emma Hayiou-Thomas, emma.hayiou-thomas@york.ac.uk

Philip Dale, dalep@unm.edu