title: Language in children with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
abstract: Introduction Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) is a common neurologic injury, and it may compromise the child's language and cognition. Understanding the process of language acquisition becomes possible with concise knowledge about children's global development. Objective The aim of this study was to observe if language acquisition and development are impaired in children with NHIE. Methods Seventy children with NHIE from 1 to 24 months old were analyzed in a Pediatric Neurology Service of Hospital of Porto Alegre, South of Brazil using the Brunet-Lezine Scale. Statistical analysis used SPSS 13.0 software. Results Twenty-four (60%) of the subjects were boys, with mean gestational age of 35.8 weeks (standard deviation of 4.6) and mean Apgar score of 6.0 at 1 minute and 7.1 at 5 minutes. The variables age versus language showed significant inverse correlation (r =  - 0.566; p = 0.028). As the subjects aged, language tasks became more specific and dependent on the subject's direct action, rather than the subjective interpretation of their guardian. This correlation seems to be closely associated with scale configuration and with consequences of neurologic disorder, evincing the delays in language development. Conclusion This study achieved the goals proposed and highlights the necessity of greater attention by professionals to language skills during the initial period of child development.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chenia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luíza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vernier
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cesa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guardiola
authors.affiliation: Departamento da Pró-reitoria de Extensão de Assuntos Comunitários, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deisi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vidor
keywords: and hearing sciences; brain; brain ischemia; hypoxia; language; language development; neurology; speech