Creating the conditions for robust early language development for all: Part two: Evidence informed public health framework for child language in the early years
Authors: McKean Cristina , Reilly Sheena 
Published: July 2023

Background

One of the most significant developmental accomplishments is the emergence of language in early childhood. Whilst this process is effortless for most children, others can face significant hurdles. Identifying, in the early years, which children will go on to have developmental language disorder is, however, fraught with several well‐documented challenges. In the preceding paper we described and linked new research evidence about factors that influence language development in the early years, noting that exposure to some may be time sensitive and that these influences cluster together and can accumulate over time. We demonstrated that risk profiles were associated with and characterised low language trajectories, and we considered how this information could be integrated into a concept that moves beyond screening at single time points in the early years. We argue that this evidence might be used to build an improved early years framework for language thereby creating a more equitable surveillance system that does not leave children living in less advantageous circumstances behind. Underpinning this thinking was a bioecological framework that incorporates the social, environmental and family factors in the child's ecosystem known to influence language development in the early years.

Aims

To develop a proposal for the design and implementation of an early language public health framework based on current best evidence

Methods

We synthesised the findings from the companion paper (Reilly & McKean 2023) regarding early language trajectories, inequalities and clustering of risks with key public health concepts, relevant intervention evidence and implementation theories to develop a new framework for language surveillance and preventative interventions in the early years.

Main Contribution

An evidence informed early language public health framework is presented. Describing in turn (1) essential components; (2) relevant interventions; (3) essential qualities for implementation ((i) probabilistic, (ii) proportionate, (iii) developmental and sustained and (iv) codesigned); (4) system‐level structures and (5) processes required to adopt and embed an early language public health framework in an existing Local Government Area's child health surveillance and early prevention‐intervention systems.

Conclusions

Children's language development influences their life chances across the life course and language difficulties are unfairly distributed across society. Current evidence points to the need for whole systems approaches to early child language and enables a blueprint for such a framework to be described.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on the subject

Early child language development sets the stage for a child's life chances and language difficulties can have profound long‐term consequences. Such difficulties are unfairly distributed across society and the reach of preventative services is not universal or equitable.

What this study adds

Several effective primary and secondary preventative interventions exist but their successful implementation is not straightforward. An early language public health framework of surveillance and intervention is described to provide equitable and effective early interventions to children from 0–4 years. We detail the essential components, interventions and qualities of that framework and describe system‐level structures and processes required to adopt and embed an early language public health framework in a given locality.

What are the clinical implications of this work?

A whole systems approach to early child language is required and should be co‐designed through local collaboration with family, community and children's services stakeholders. A public health speech and language therapist role could catalyse the implementation of such approaches and support continuous improvement.