OFFICIALS from Jiao Tong University’s School of Foreign Languages and Shanghai Children’s Medical Center have agreed to cooperate to develop the nation’s first language ability standard for children.

Experts from the two organizations will engage in research, clinical diagnosis and treatment for youngsters with language and communication problems, the university said yesterday.

Between 10 and 15 percent of preschoolers and 6 percent of school-age children in China have a “speech-language disorder,” said Hu Kaibao, dean of the foreign language school.