The Predictive Value of Language Scales: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition in Correlation With Korean Sequenced Language Scale for Infant

Objective To compare the relationship of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd Edition (K-BSID-III) language score and the Sequenced Language Scale for Infant (SELSI) score and evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of K-BSID-III language score and optimal cutoff value with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in infants and toddlers with delayed language development. Methods A total of 104 children with suspected language developmental delay were included in this retrospective study. Subjects were tested using the K-BSID-III and SELSI and subdivided into several groups according to the severity of language scores. ROC curve analysis was performed to assess K-BSID-III for delayed language development. Results Receptive and expressive language subscales of the K-BSID-III showed markedly significant correlation with the SELSI scores (p<0.001). ROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.877 (p<0.001) in SELSI receptive score and 0.935 (p<0.001) in SELSI expressive score. The optimal cutoff value where sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 81% were achieved with the K-BSID-III receptive score was 1.50 (between average and low average) in the SELSI receptive score. The optimal cutoff value where sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 82% were achieved with the K-BSID-III expressive score was also 1.50 in the SELSI expressive score. Conclusion In this study, the correlations between K-BSID-III and SELSI language scores were statistically significant. However, the interpretation should be considered carefully in low average group due to tendency of underestimation of delayed language development.