What Apps Exist That Can Be Leveraged for Speech and Language Surveillance in Children? A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review aimed to identify and evaluate apps designed to screen or monitor speech, language, and communication (SLC) development in young children. Early identification and intervention are crucial for children with SLC difficulties, but traditional assessments can be time-consuming and lack ecological validity. Technological advancements offer potential for more objective and user-friendly assessments through apps. A systematic search of five databases identified 14 papers representing 18 studies on apps for SLC screening in children under 5 years old. Ten apps were identified, targeting various SLC domains, with four processing data internally and others requiring external software. Studies spanned eight countries, with diverse purposes and sample sizes, targeting children from newborns to 9 years old (average 3.7 years). Most studies focused on app development and usability, with limited data on reliability and validity. More research is needed to assess these apps' effectiveness as surveillance tools for SLC needs.