BACKGROUND: validation of a screening test to detect speech disorders in children. AIM: to present validation data of a new speech disorders screening test (Terdaf), developed by Brazilian researchers. METHOD: 2,027 children, of both genders, enrolled in the first grade of elementary public schools in Canoas (Brazil) during 2001 were selected by a probabilistic cluster sampling. In order to verify Terdaf's sensibility and specificity, 200 children were re-evaluated by an expert in speech disorders who had no information about the screening test results. RESULTS: prevalence of speech disorders in this sample was of 26.7%. Terdaf´s sensibility was of 81.6% (95%CI 67.5 - 90.8%), specificity was of 44.4% (95%CI 36.0 - 53.2%). When children with speech disorders due to sociocultural issues were excluded from the sample with positive Terdaf results, the screening test specificity increased to 74.1%. CONCLUSION: the new tool for speech disorders screening has a quick and easy application format and can be used by education and health professionals. It can become an important ally in the early diagnosis of speech disorders as well as in the prevention of co morbidities associated to speech disorders. A few adjustments are necessary for the application of this test. These are discussed and presented in this article.
Epidemiology; Speech; Speech Articulation Tests; Screening
