title: Predictors of early precocious talking: a prospective population study.
abstract: This study examines potential predictors of 'precocious talking' (expressive language ≥90th percentile) at one and two years of age, and of 'stability' in precocious talking across both time periods, drawing on data from a prospective community cohort comprising over 1,800 children. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between precocious talking and the following potential predictors: gender, birth order, birth weight, non-English speaking background, socioeconomic status, maternal age, maternal mental health scores, and vocabulary and educational attainment of parents. The strongest predictors of precocity (being female and having a younger mother) warrant further exploration. Overall, however, it appears that precocity in early vocabulary development is not strongly influenced by the variables examined, which together explained just 2.6% and 1% of the variation at 1;0 and 2;0 respectively.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Speech Pathology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Jemma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skeat
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wake
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eadie
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bretherton
authors.forename: Edith L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bavin
authors.forename: Obioha C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Ukoumunne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001722:Birth Order / Q000523:psychology; D001724:Birth Weight; D002672:Child, Gifted / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007807:Language Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult