Abstract: Objective To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of language development delay in preschool children in some urban areas of Zhengzhou from 2017 to 2019.Methods The kindergartens under the jurisdiction of Zhongyuan District, Erqi District and Guancheng District of Zhengzhou City were involved as the study sites. Random cluster sampling was conducted from 2017 to 2019 and early screening diagnosis was performed, and 7 800 preschool children (aged 3 to 6 years old) form 50 kindergartens were selected as the research subjects. According to the language development quotient, sound, auditory brainstem response(ABR) and S-S method of Gesell Developmental Diagnostic Scale, the prevalence of language developmental delay in children was evaluated comprehensively. A demographic questionnaire developed by our hospital was distributed to learn about the general data of preschool children with language development delay and their family members concerning gender, age, occupation and education level. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors.Results Among 7 800 preschool children, there were 480 cases suffering from language development delay, accounting for about 6.15%. The incidence rate of language delay in boys was 6.47% (247/3 816), which was higher than that of girls (5.85%，233/3 984), but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.25). The incidence rate of language delay of children aged 3 to 4 was 6.21%(156/2 512), slightly higher than 6.18%(162/2 623) for 4 to 5 years old and 6.08%(162/2 665) for 5 to 6 years old, but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.843). Univariate analysis showed that parental childbearing age（low）, parental educational level（low）, family intimacy（poor）, family composition(>3 persons), family monthly income（<8 000 yuan）, parenting style（spoiling，leaving children alone and mixing） and neonatal diseases were all risk factors for language development delay. According to multivariate Logistic regression model analysis, father's childbearing age(<22 years old), monthly income level(<8 000 yuan)，parenting styles such as spoiling, leaving children alone and mixing and neonatal diseases were independent risk factors for language development delay；the democratic parenting style and excellent family intimacy were the protective factors.Conclusion As for preschool children with language development delay, it is necessary to pay special attention to boys aged 3 to 4 years old. Since many of the independent risk factors are social factors, it is necessary to emphasize the family support during the treatment process to help improve language development delay.

Key words:

Language developmental delay；Preschool children, Demographic survey, Risk factors