Systematic review of the literature on the treatment of children with late language emergence.

Background: Research has indicated that 24-36-month-olds with late language emergence ('late talkers') are at risk for later language-learning difficulties. Previous reviews have examined the efficacy of treatment for children with language delay/disorders; however, no systematic review has examined the effects of language treatment specifically for children with late language emergence.

Aims: This systematic review reports the effects of intervention studies conducted between 1985 and 2008 of 24-36-month-olds with late language emergence.