Risk Factors for Children's Vocabulary Performance: Background Variables and Parental Concerns

What is already known on this subject Research has consistently demonstrated the validity and importance of parental concerns in identifying children's developmental issues, particularly in the early detection of DLD. Previous studies have established that parental observations can be as reliable as quality developmental screening tests. Early language milestones, including onset of speaking and word combinations, have been identified as significant predictors of vocabulary development. Risk factors for language development have been categorised into three domains: biological/genetic factors (family history, health conditions), developmental indicators (delayed milestones), and social/environmental factors. The CDI has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing vocabulary development and identifying children at risk for DLD across various languages. What this study adds to existing knowledge This study reveals that parental concerns emerge as the strongest predictor of vocabulary performance in Arabic, an understudied language in this context, accounting for 27.2% of variance in language development. For the first time, we demonstrate differential predictive patterns between children with and without parental concerns: Onset of speaking predicts performance for children without concerns, while word combination abilities serve as the sole significant predictor for children with concerns. The study validates a three-domain framework in Arabic-speaking populations and shows that subjective factors demonstrate significantly stronger relationships with vocabulary performance than objective indicators, challenging traditional assumptions about measurement reliability. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? These findings highlight the value of considering parental perspectives alongside standardised assessments to gain a comprehensive understanding of children's linguistic abilities in Arabic-speaking populations. Healthcare professionals should recognise that parental reports, when systematically collected, may provide more sensitive indicators of language development than traditional objective measures. Clinical assessment protocols should be restructured to give greater weight to structured parental observations. Word combination abilities, in particular, seem valuable for identifying children with persistent language difficulties. The PA-CDI, combined with background variables, shows promise as an effective clinical tool for early identification of children at risk for language delays in Arabic-speaking populations.