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The Stability of Oral Language Profiles of Children in the Early Years of School: A Longitudinal Comparison of Multidimensional and Cut-Point Approaches to Classification

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Title: The Stability of Oral Language Profiles of Children in the Early Years of School: A Longitudinal Comparison of Multidimensional and Cut-Point Approaches to Classification
Language: English
Authors: Anna Louise Taylor (ORCID 0000-0001-7631-4602), Suze Leitão, Sharon Smart (ORCID 0000-0002-5882-4673), Robyn Wheldall, Mary Claessen, Elien Vanluydt (ORCID 0000-0002-8753-9863), Mark E. Boyes (ORCID 0000-0001-5420-8606)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2026 61(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Oral Language, Longitudinal Studies, Children, Cluster Grouping, Evaluation Methods, Language Impairments, Disability Identification, Research Methodology, Child Development, Child Language, Language Acquisition, Profiles
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70246
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: A cut-point approach to classifying children's language abilities uses a specific threshold to determine whether an individual falls into a particular group, such as children with 'typically developing language' or 'language difficulties.' This method has been frequently used in longitudinal research to track language during the early school years. Findings have suggested that language difficulties may persist, emerge or resolve during this time. Aims: This longitudinal study with stratified sampling investigated oral language profiles using a multidimensional assessment framework, comparing results across multidimensional and cut-point approaches and exploring how language profiles relate to children's functioning in Year 1. Methods: We assessed 90 children across multiple dimensions of oral language at school entry and followed them up one year later. A statistical method of combining data sources to look for groups with common characteristics (latent profile analysis) was used to identify language profiles and transitions between them. To compare the results with a cut-point approach, children were subsequently reclassified into two groups using a single cut-point from an omnibus test of oral language. Profile-related differences in early academic and psychosocial outcomes were compared using a Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Follow-up analyses using McNemar's test examined whether differences in classifications from the two classification methods were statistically significant. Results: Three language trajectory profiles were identified using the multidimensional approach: stable average, stable low and improving. The cut-point method identified these same profiles and a small declining profile. Notably, more children were classified in the stable low group using the multidimensional approach compared to the cut-point method, and this difference was statistically significant. In Year 1, children classified into language profiles characterised by average or above-average abilities exhibited significantly stronger early academic outcomes compared to those in profiles associated with language difficulties. Conclusions: The use of a multidimensional assessment may result in greater consistency of categorical classifications over time for students with language difficulties. Further research is needed to explore the potential clinical utility of this approach to support the accurate and early identification of students with language difficulties and disorders.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506913
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: The Stability of Oral Language Profiles of Children in the Early Years of School: A Longitudinal Comparison of Multidimensional and Cut-Point Approaches to Classification
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anna+Louise+Taylor%22">Anna Louise Taylor</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7631-4602">0000-0001-7631-4602</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suze+Leitão%22">Suze Leitão</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sharon+Smart%22">Sharon Smart</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5882-4673">0000-0002-5882-4673</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robyn+Wheldall%22">Robyn Wheldall</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mary+Claessen%22">Mary Claessen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elien+Vanluydt%22">Elien Vanluydt</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8753-9863">0000-0002-8753-9863</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mark+E%2E+Boyes%22">Mark E. Boyes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5420-8606">0000-0001-5420-8606</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(3).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 16
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Language%22">Oral Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cluster+Grouping%22">Cluster Grouping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluation+Methods%22">Evaluation Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Impairments%22">Language Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disability+Identification%22">Disability Identification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Methodology%22">Research Methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Language%22">Child Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Profiles%22">Profiles</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70246
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: A cut-point approach to classifying children's language abilities uses a specific threshold to determine whether an individual falls into a particular group, such as children with 'typically developing language' or 'language difficulties.' This method has been frequently used in longitudinal research to track language during the early school years. Findings have suggested that language difficulties may persist, emerge or resolve during this time. Aims: This longitudinal study with stratified sampling investigated oral language profiles using a multidimensional assessment framework, comparing results across multidimensional and cut-point approaches and exploring how language profiles relate to children's functioning in Year 1. Methods: We assessed 90 children across multiple dimensions of oral language at school entry and followed them up one year later. A statistical method of combining data sources to look for groups with common characteristics (latent profile analysis) was used to identify language profiles and transitions between them. To compare the results with a cut-point approach, children were subsequently reclassified into two groups using a single cut-point from an omnibus test of oral language. Profile-related differences in early academic and psychosocial outcomes were compared using a Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Follow-up analyses using McNemar's test examined whether differences in classifications from the two classification methods were statistically significant. Results: Three language trajectory profiles were identified using the multidimensional approach: stable average, stable low and improving. The cut-point method identified these same profiles and a small declining profile. Notably, more children were classified in the stable low group using the multidimensional approach compared to the cut-point method, and this difference was statistically significant. In Year 1, children classified into language profiles characterised by average or above-average abilities exhibited significantly stronger early academic outcomes compared to those in profiles associated with language difficulties. Conclusions: The use of a multidimensional assessment may result in greater consistency of categorical classifications over time for students with language difficulties. Further research is needed to explore the potential clinical utility of this approach to support the accurate and early identification of students with language difficulties and disorders.
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        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70246
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      – SubjectFull: Oral Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Cluster Grouping
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      – SubjectFull: Evaluation Methods
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      – SubjectFull: Child Language
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      – SubjectFull: Language Acquisition
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      – SubjectFull: Profiles
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