Predictive value of early testing of auditory localization for language development.

This pilot study attempted to determine whether atypical localization to voice during the first year of life could be predictive of later delayed language development. 22 children who had been tested at six to nine months of age and found to have normal hearing were retrospectively divided into "atypical' and 'normal' groups. They were then evaluated for language development at four years of age. The atypical group had significantly lower scores on two of the four measures of language competence, but the results must be interpreted with caution because of the small number of children in the study.