The van Hove self-correlation function in a hard-disk fluid is analyzed using the Lorentz-Enskog kinetic equation and the kinetic model method of solution. Numerical convergence of the model solutions is demonstrated and accurate model results are used to interpret molecular dynamics simulation data at finite wave numbers. It is found that at about 60% of freezing density the error in the Enskog theory can be mainly attributed to an underestimate of the effective self-diffusion coefficient, but at 90% freezing density a theory which treats correlated collisions is needed to describe the width behavior of the singleparticle density fluctuation spectrum.