Early language problems linked to later life challenges, Swedish study finds
New research from GNC on language disorders suggests that early language difficulties can have lasting effects later in life
Language disorder is the most common disorder among children and may occur in isolation or in association with another disorder. Developmental language disorder/DLD occurs in 7-8% of all single or multilingual preschool children.
Children who show early signs of language difficulties at age two-and-a-half may face greater academic and mental health challenges as young adults, according to a new study published in Acta Paediatrica.
The research, conducted by a group of researchers from the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg and Stockholm University, followed a group of children for nearly three decades to assess how early language struggles affected their adult lives. The findings point to lasting disadvantages in education and mental health for those who had early language problems—though not all differences reached statistical significance due to the small sample size.
Tracking children from toddlerhood to adulthood
The study analysed public records for 105 Swedish children born in the mid-1990s. Of these, 25 had been flagged by Sweden’s Child Health Services (CHS) at age 2.5 for suspected Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)—a neurodevelopmental condition that affects speech, vocabulary, and comprehension. The remaining 80 children, who had typical language development, served as a comparison group.
The researchers compared the two groups on a range of outcomes: developmental assessments at age four, upper-secondary school eligibility at 16, psychiatric diagnoses and medications, unemployment, and financial support received in their late twenties.
Early red flags persisted over time
By the age of four, nearly one in three children (29%) in the DLD group had failed their developmental check-up—more than three times the rate (9%) of children without early language difficulties.
At 16, only 24% of the DLD group met academic requirements to enter upper-secondary school, compared with 11% of their peers.
By their late twenties, 40% of those with early language difficulties had received at least one psychiatric diagnosis—almost double the rate (22%) among those without DLD. About 16% of the DLD group received public financial support as adults, compared to 9% of the control group.
Interestingly, rates of unemployment and psychiatric medication were roughly similar across both groups.
A subtle but significant pattern
Although many of the differences were not statistically significant, the researchers noted a clear trend: children who struggled with language early in life were more likely to face neurodevelopmental, academic, and mental health challenges later on.
Lead author Professor and Speech and Language Pathologist Carmela Miniscalco of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre explained that these findings challenge the notion that children “grow out of” early language problems.
“For many children, early language difficulties do not simply disappear,” Miniscalco said. “They may reflect broader neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities that persist into adulthood.”
Developmental Language Disorder affects around 7–8% of preschoolers—roughly one in every 14 children—but remains under-recognised compared to other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD or autism.
In Sweden, early screening is part of routine child health services, which reach about 98% of preschoolers. Yet DLD is still not formally recognised in Swedish healthcare coding systems and is expected to be introduced in the national diagnostic manual (ICD-11) by 2028.
The authors argue that identifying and supporting children with early communication problems could prevent later difficulties in education and mental health. They also call for larger-scale longitudinal studies to understand the full impact of DLD across adulthood.
The bigger picture
Previous research has linked language disorders in childhood to later struggles with literacy, employment, and self-esteem. This new Swedish study adds to that evidence, suggesting that even subtle early language delays may have ripple effects well into adulthood.
“We need to rethink the term ‘language difficulties,’” the authors write. “For many, these are not temporary delays, but signs of a developmental trajectory that requires long-term support.”
The study was supported by the Swedish Research Council for Medicine and the Västra Götaland Region’s Agreement on Medical Training and Research. It was published open access in Acta Paediatrica on May 8, 2025.
Link to the article: Miniscalco C, Westerlund J, Hagberg B, Gillberg C, Fernell E. Life Outcomes in Young Adults With Early Language Difficulties: A County-Based Register Study. Acta Paediatr. 2025 Oct;114(10):2551-2557. doi: 10.1111/apa.70134. Epub 2025 May 15. PMID: 40370291; PMCID: PMC12420890.
Text by Anna Spyrou, Communications Officer
