Abstract：
BACKGROUND: There is a substantial discrepancy between international and local prevalence rates for speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) amongst children in New Zealand. Reports of communication impairment are likely to be underestimates. Prevalence data can describe population characteristics and inform the scope and nature of services to adequately meet demand. Parents and other caregivers are central to the early identification of children with communication needs but they may not recognise their child\'s needs or act on their concerns.
METHODS: Cross-sectional data were available for the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study cohort at 24, 54 and 72 months of age, with 76% of whānau (families; n = 5241) completing three data waves. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were used to address: (1) What are the communication abilities of children in the first 5 years of life? (2) What do New Zealand parents understand of their children\'s communication? (3) Do New Zealand parents have concerns? (4) What are the trajectories of parental concern for children\'s communication in the first 6 years of life?
RESULTS: At 24 months old, 16% of children had communication skills that were of concern to their parents. At 54 months, there were concerns for 12.6% of children. Although most parents were able to describe their child\'s expressive abilities, many parents remained unconcerned when their child demonstrated communication skills that did not met developmental expectations.
CONCLUSIONS: Parents can offer valuable insights about their children, but in many cases their level of concern about SLCN did not align with a professional view which reflects a more nuanced understanding of children\'s speech and language and the impact on future communication skills and needs. Increased awareness through public health messaging specifically regarding lifelong influences of communication challenges will aid in prevention, early detection and intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: What is already known on this subject Parent\'s expectations of child speech and language development will inform how responsive they are to difficulties in their child. Appropriate parental concern is key to recognition of children with speech, language and communication needs that warrant referral to a professional. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Parents are aware of expressive language skills that children acquire and can accurately identify their children\'s skills but have less knowledge of the ages of acquisition. Some parents are not concerned, do not seek support despite recognisable difficulties, and demonstrate limited understanding of the future consequences for children with communication needs that are unmet. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Public health messaging should include both skills and age ranges for speech and language acquisition. Additionally, educating the public of the impact of speech, language and communication skills on children\'s futures is needed.
METHODS: Cross-sectional data were available for the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study cohort at 24, 54 and 72 months of age, with 76% of whānau (families; n = 5241) completing three data waves. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were used to address: (1) What are the communication abilities of children in the first 5 years of life? (2) What do New Zealand parents understand of their children\'s communication? (3) Do New Zealand parents have concerns? (4) What are the trajectories of parental concern for children\'s communication in the first 6 years of life?
RESULTS: At 24 months old, 16% of children had communication skills that were of concern to their parents. At 54 months, there were concerns for 12.6% of children. Although most parents were able to describe their child\'s expressive abilities, many parents remained unconcerned when their child demonstrated communication skills that did not met developmental expectations.
CONCLUSIONS: Parents can offer valuable insights about their children, but in many cases their level of concern about SLCN did not align with a professional view which reflects a more nuanced understanding of children\'s speech and language and the impact on future communication skills and needs. Increased awareness through public health messaging specifically regarding lifelong influences of communication challenges will aid in prevention, early detection and intervention.
CONCLUSIONS: What is already known on this subject Parent\'s expectations of child speech and language development will inform how responsive they are to difficulties in their child. Appropriate parental concern is key to recognition of children with speech, language and communication needs that warrant referral to a professional. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Parents are aware of expressive language skills that children acquire and can accurately identify their children\'s skills but have less knowledge of the ages of acquisition. Some parents are not concerned, do not seek support despite recognisable difficulties, and demonstrate limited understanding of the future consequences for children with communication needs that are unmet. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Public health messaging should include both skills and age ranges for speech and language acquisition. Additionally, educating the public of the impact of speech, language and communication skills on children\'s futures is needed.
摘要：
背景：国际和当地的言语流行率之间存在很大差异，新西兰儿童的语言和交流需求(SLCN)。沟通障碍的报告很可能被低估了。患病率数据可以描述人口特征，并告知服务的范围和性质，以充分满足需求。父母和其他照顾者是早期识别有沟通需求的孩子的核心，但他们可能不认识到孩子的需求或对他们的担忧采取行动。
方法：在24、54和72个月大的新西兰（GUiNZ）纵向研究队列中提供了横断面数据，76％的whānau（家庭；n=5241）完成了三个数据波。描述性和卡方分析用于解决：（1）儿童在生命的头5年中的沟通能力是什么？（2）新西兰父母对孩子的沟通有什么理解？（3）新西兰父母是否有顾虑？（4）父母对孩子在生命的头6年中的沟通的关注轨迹是什么？
结果：在24个月大，16％的儿童具有父母关心的沟通技巧。54个月时,12.6%的儿童受到关注。虽然大多数父母能够描述他们孩子的表达能力，当他们的孩子表现出不符合发展期望的沟通技巧时，许多父母仍然不关心。
结论：父母可以提供关于孩子的宝贵见解，但在许多情况下，他们对SLCN的关注程度并不符合专业观点，这反映了对儿童言语和语言的更细致的理解，以及对未来沟通技巧和需求的影响。通过公共卫生信息特别是关于沟通挑战的终身影响的提高认识将有助于预防，早期发现和干预。
结论：在这个问题上已经知道的是，父母对儿童言语和语言发展的期望将告知他们对孩子的困难的反应。父母适当的关心是识别有言语的孩子的关键，语言和沟通需要需要推荐给专业人士。本文对现有知识的补充父母意识到孩子获得的表达语言技能，可以准确地识别孩子的技能，但对获得年龄的了解较少。有些家长并不关心，尽管有公认的困难，但不要寻求支持，并对沟通需求未得到满足的儿童的未来后果表现出有限的理解。这项工作的潜在或实际临床意义是什么？公共卫生信息应包括语音和语言习得的技能和年龄范围。此外,教育公众演讲的影响，语言和沟通技巧对儿童的未来是必要的。
方法：在24、54和72个月大的新西兰（GUiNZ）纵向研究队列中提供了横断面数据，76％的whānau（家庭；n=5241）完成了三个数据波。描述性和卡方分析用于解决：（1）儿童在生命的头5年中的沟通能力是什么？（2）新西兰父母对孩子的沟通有什么理解？（3）新西兰父母是否有顾虑？（4）父母对孩子在生命的头6年中的沟通的关注轨迹是什么？
结果：在24个月大，16％的儿童具有父母关心的沟通技巧。54个月时,12.6%的儿童受到关注。虽然大多数父母能够描述他们孩子的表达能力，当他们的孩子表现出不符合发展期望的沟通技巧时，许多父母仍然不关心。
结论：父母可以提供关于孩子的宝贵见解，但在许多情况下，他们对SLCN的关注程度并不符合专业观点，这反映了对儿童言语和语言的更细致的理解，以及对未来沟通技巧和需求的影响。通过公共卫生信息特别是关于沟通挑战的终身影响的提高认识将有助于预防，早期发现和干预。
结论：在这个问题上已经知道的是，父母对儿童言语和语言发展的期望将告知他们对孩子的困难的反应。父母适当的关心是识别有言语的孩子的关键，语言和沟通需要需要推荐给专业人士。本文对现有知识的补充父母意识到孩子获得的表达语言技能，可以准确地识别孩子的技能，但对获得年龄的了解较少。有些家长并不关心，尽管有公认的困难，但不要寻求支持，并对沟通需求未得到满足的儿童的未来后果表现出有限的理解。这项工作的潜在或实际临床意义是什么？公共卫生信息应包括语音和语言习得的技能和年龄范围。此外,教育公众演讲的影响，语言和沟通技巧对儿童的未来是必要的。
