Swedish Boys Were Almost Twice as Likely to be Referred for Suspected Language Difficulties Than Girls and at an Earlier Age.

Aim: This study investigated gender differences in referrals to speech and language therapy (SLT) services in children 1.5-6.0 years of age and the distribution of children identified through universal language screening at 2.5-3.0 years within Swedish child health services.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study using register data from 53 595 children. Data were collected from eight Swedish regions between 1 May 2015 and 1 June 2023, including gender, referral details and screening outcomes.

Results: Of all children, 9.60% (n = 5144) were referred. Boys were referred significantly more often than girls (12.26% vs. 6.79%), χ²(df = 1, N = 53 595) = 701.38, p < 0.001. The odds of referral were 1.94 times higher for boys (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.85 to 2.04). Boys were also referred at a younger median age (3.08 vs. 3.58 years). Among children who failed screening, boys were more likely to be referred within 3 months (17.2% vs. 13.5%), OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.84.

Conclusion: Significant gender disparities exist in both screening and referral practices, with boys referred more frequently and at younger ages. Refining screening protocols is essential to ensure early and equitable intervention access for all children.