The developmental dysphasia (DD) represents a severe speech and language disorder due to the brain language areas underdevelopment or damage in the preverbal period. DD clinical picture needs further investigations as it may vary with age, severity and presence of delays in other domains.

Multidimensional evaluation of the developmental features in children with DD was performed by means of the parents interviews based on Developmental Profile 3 (DP-3) [1]. Age equivalents and delays in development were analyzed for physical, adaptive behavior, social-emotional, cognitive and communication skills.

120 patients with DD (89 males, 31 females) were studied aged from 3 to 4½ years and subdivided into 3 groups: (1) from 3 to 3½ years; (2) 3½ to 4 years; (3) 4 to 4½. The exclusion criteria were hearing loss, epilepsy, mental retardation, autism, psychosocial adversities.

The assessment revealed most prominent delay in communication abilities which was increased from 17,3±0,4 months in group 1 to 21,2±0,8 in group 2 and 27,3±0,5 in group 3. Physical skills acquisition was delayed for 6,7±0,3 months in group 1, 12,2±0,5 in group 2, 17,2±0,4 in group 3. Cognitive delay was equal to 6,9±0,3 months in group 1, 11,8±0,5 in group 2, 18,0±0,4 in group 3. These data comparisons between age groups were statistically significant (p<0,001). Milder delays were demonstrated for adaptive behavior and social-emotional development.

Thus, speech and language development are closely interconnected with other domains and management in DD must include identification and interventions for delays in physical, adaptive behavior, social-emotional and cognitive areas.