Author/Editor     Šikić, N; Stracenski, M
Title     Longitudinal study of language development in preterm and term children - pilot study
Type     članek
Source     Arh Zašt Majke Djeteta
Vol. and No.     Letnik 35, št. 2
Publication year     1991
Volume     str. 83-91
Language     eng
Abstract     Several studies have stressed the importance of language development in order to avoid subsequent cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties, but still, for various reasons, the diagnosis of a developmental language disorder is often delayed. Despite the importance of understanding the problems of children with the speech and language delay. the researcher is often confused as to how he can best tackle the problem. The aim of this (pilot) study was to describe the language development of agroup of prematurely born children and to compare it with a group of healthy term-born children. Most stages of the language development proved to occur at slightly later ages among the neurologically unimpared preterm children than among those born at term. A lower gestational age and slight neurological disorders at the age of nine months had a significant effect on language performance: preterm children with mild neurological impairment were more delayed and had more articulation defects compared with neurologically unimpared preterm children. Girls were more advanced in early language development and showed less articulation defects than boys. Most of these children were also assessed for intelligence, reading and behaviour problems at the age of seven. The group with the language delay was consistently behind in intelligence, reading and behaviour. The results of this study support the concept that the language development of prematurely born children in influenced by perinatal, neurological and behavioural characteristics. It seems that the early language delay is i predictor of lower intelligence, reading and behavioural problems in seven-year-old children
Descriptors     LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
INFANT, PREMATURE
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES
PILOT PROJECTS
BODY HEIGHT
BODY WEIGHT
COGNITION
RISK FACTORS
INFANT, NEWBORN
CHILD