Van der Linde, JeannieSwanepoel, De WetHanekom, LiniqueLemmer, TashaSchoeman, KarlaGlascoe, Frances PageVinck, Bart M.2016-05-262016-05-262016-04-08Van der Linde, J., Swanepoel, D.W., Hanekom, L., Lemmer, T., Schoeman, K., Glascoe, F.P. et al., 2016, ‘Early detection of communication delays with the PEDS tools in at-risk South African infants’, African Journal of Disability 5(1), a223. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/ajod.v5i1.223.2223-9170 (print)2226-7220 (online)10.4102/ajod.v5i1.223http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52770BACKGROUND : Prevalence of communication delays or disorders is increasing, possibly because of various environmental risk factors. Selection and implementation of effective screening tools are important to detect at-risk infants as early as possible. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS), PEDS-Developmental Milestones and PEDS tools to detect communication delays in infants (6–12 months) in a South African primary healthcare context. METHOD : A comparative study design evaluated the accuracy of the PEDS tools to detect communication delays, using an internationally accepted diagnostic assessment tool, the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale (RITLS). A convenience sample of 201 infants was selected at primary healthcare clinics. RESULTS : Expressive and receptive language sensitivity scores were low across all three screens (ranging between 14% and 44%). The PEDS tools had high sensitivity (71%) and specificity (73%) ratings for the receptive and expressive language and socio-emotional domain in combination. CONCLUSION : In the sample population, the PEDS tools did not accurately detect receptive and expressive language delays; however, communication delays in general were identified. Future research determining accuracy of the PEDS, PEDS-Developmental Milestones and PEDS tools for children aged 2–5 years in detecting communication delays should be prioritised.en© 2016. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.InfantsScreening toolsPrimary healthcare clinic (PHCC)Environmental risk factorsArticle