Events at early development: are they associated with early word production and neurodevelopmental abilities at the preschool age?
BACKGROUND
Obstetrical and neonatal complications and/or an adverse parenting environment are risk factors for language impairment, but little is known about their effects on early word production (late talking).


OBJECTIVE
To determine obstetrical and neonatal risk factors in children with delayed word production; to assess the influence of the parenting environment on word production; to determine whether the toddler's vocabulary competence is related to his/her social competence; to document the neurodevelopmental outcome at the late preschool age.


METHODS
Prospective follow-up study. Based on word production at 18 months, children were retrospectively classified into consistent or transient late talkers and controls.


METHODS
Full-term infants, N=30 (mean GA 40.3+/-1.1 weeks, mean birth weight 3577+/-267 g) were assessed at 18 and 24 months; and 5 years and 7 months.


METHODS
Austrian Communicative Development Inventories; Bayley Scales of Infant Development; Griffiths Developmental Scales.


METHODS
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test; Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; Touwen's neurological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower Apgar scores and the need for neonatal intensive care were associated with delayed word production. The parents' educational and vocational levels were lower in late talkers. Early vocabulary competence correlated with social competence. With regard to the prediction of lexical and cognitive outcomes, late talkers did not differ from controls. Minor neurological dysfunctions (MND) were seen in nearly half of the late talkers and indicate the necessity to follow these children into school age, when MND might become more obvious and literacy can be assessed.
Marschik
Peter B
PB
Institute of Physiology (Developmental Physiology and Developmental Neurology), Center for Physiological Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Einspieler
Christa
C
Garzarolli
Bettina
B
Prechtl
Heinz F R
HF
D001724:Birth Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014825:Vocabulary