{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T12:11:49Z","timestamp":1789042309964,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Intl J Lang &amp; Comm Disor"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Language development in early childhood varies considerably, making early detection of Developmental Language Disorders (DLDs) challenging despite their high prevalence and long\u2010term effects on learning and mental health. In Italy, no culturally adapted, easy\u2010to\u2010use screening tools are currently available in primary care. To address this gap, a screening tool was developed to support the early identification of children aged 24\u201372 months at risk of DLD and other clinically relevant language difficulties.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aims<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To evaluate the psychometric properties and accuracy of the Comunicazione e Linguaggio in Ambulatorio Pediatrico (CLAP), a brief age\u2010specific screening tool designed for use in Italian paediatric outpatient settings.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods and Procedures<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In this pilot validation study, children were recruited by primary care paediatricians during routine well\u2010child visits and stratified into four age groups: 24\u201330, 36\u201342, 48\u201354, and 60\u201372 months. After administration of the CLAP screening tool, each child underwent a blinded speech\u2010language pathologist (SLP) assessment. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency, item\u2013total correlations, confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory indices (discrimination and difficulty). Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using ROC curves, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cut\u2010offs. Analyses were conducted separately for each age group.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Outcomes and Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Fifty children were enrolled in each age group; overall, 24% of the sample fell into the pathological subgroup after the blinded SLP assessment. Internal consistency was acceptable in the 24\u201330\u2010month (KR\u201020 = 0.695) and 36\u201342\u2010month (KR\u201020 = 0.777) groups, but lower in older children. Factor analyses supported a mainly unidimensional structure in the younger groups. Item response theory showed good discrimination and informativeness for several items. ROC analyses indicated excellent diagnostic accuracy in the 24\u201330\u2010month group (AUC = 0.93; sensitivity = 92%; specificity = 87%), fair accuracy in the 36\u201342\u2010 and 48\u201354\u2010month groups (AUC = 0.75 and 0.74), and poor performance in the 60\u201372\u2010month group (AUC = 0.46).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion and Implications<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The CLAP demonstrates promising psychometric properties and good\u2010to\u2010fair accuracy as a brief screening tool for identifying children aged 24\u201354 months at risk of clinically relevant language difficulties, including those who may need further assessment for DLD. Its age\u2010specific design, quick administration, and non\u2010invasive nature support its potential integration into routine primary care. For older children, an age\u2010specific revision or an alternative tool might be required. A larger validation study is currently in progress.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:italic>What is already known on this subject<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is common in early childhood; however, early identification remains difficult due to variable developmental pathways and the absence of validated screening tools in primary care. Currently, no brief, culturally adapted instrument is available for routine use in Italian paediatric settings.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                      <\/jats:list>\n                      <jats:italic>What does this study add to existing knowledge<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>This study demonstrates that the CLAP tool has promising psychometric properties, with good accuracy in the youngest age group and fair accuracy up to 54 months for identifying children at risk of clinically relevant language difficulties, including those who may later meet criteria for DLD. It provides the first evidence supporting an age\u2010specific, feasible screening option that can be integrated into Italian primary care, while also identifying areas requiring revision for older pre\u2010schoolers.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                      <\/jats:list>\n                      <jats:italic>What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:list list-type=\"bullet\">\n                        <jats:list-item>\n                          <jats:p>CLAP can assist paediatricians in the early detection of clinically relevant language difficulties in children during routine well\u2010child visits. Its adoption could help standardize early language screening in Italy, leading to earlier referral for further diagnostic assessment and appropriate speech\u2013language evaluation.<\/jats:p>\n                        <\/jats:list-item>\n                      <\/jats:list>\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.70282","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T15:44:48Z","timestamp":1782402288000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Early Identification of DLD in Paediatric Practice: A Pilot Validation of the CLAP Screening Tool in Italian Outpatient Settings"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"61","author":[{"given":"Andrea","family":"Ricotti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Trial Unit Ordine Mauriziano Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Danilo","family":"Dimitri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Torino  Orbassano Italy"},{"name":"Department of Psychology Salesian University Institute Torino Rebaudengo  Torino Italy"},{"name":"ASL CN1 Child Neuropsychiatry Cuneo\u2010Mondov\u00ec  Cuneo Italy"},{"name":"Easy\u2010Brain APS  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Federica","family":"Nebbia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Easy\u2010Brain APS  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Carpino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pediatric Emergency Unit Regina Margherita Children's Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1300-4508","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lorena","family":"Charrier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health and Pediatrics University of Torino  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia De","family":"Cillis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Therapy Degree Program University of Torino  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Bonzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Therapy Degree Program University of Torino  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Actis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Therapy Degree Program University of Torino  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Grosso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Speech Therapy Degree Program University of Torino  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emanuela","family":"Malorgio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"SICuPP (Societ\u00e0 Italiana delle Cure Primarie Pediatriche)  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Gambotto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"SICuPP (Societ\u00e0 Italiana delle Cure Primarie Pediatriche)  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"Borsotti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Trial Unit Ordine Mauriziano Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Gallo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Trial Unit Ordine Mauriziano Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabiana","family":"Marnetto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Trial Unit Ordine Mauriziano Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emilia","family":"Parodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pediatric and Neonatology Unit, Ordine Mauriziano Hospital  Torino Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2023.26952"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpp.12721"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1590\/S0124\u201000642008000500015"},{"key":"e_1_2_12_5_1","unstructured":"Caselli M. 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