Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

Language and cognition in very low birth weight preterm infants with PELCDO application

Karina Elena Bernardis Bühler1, Suelly Cecília Olivan Limongi, Edna Maria de Albuquerque Diniz

  • 1Hospital Universitário, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. kbuhler@hu.usp.br

Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|June 24, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight preterm infants show delayed cognitive and expressive language development compared to term infants. These delays persist beyond infancy, highlighting the need for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neuroscience
  • Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants are at risk for developmental delays.
  • Cognitive and expressive language development are crucial areas affected by preterm birth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the cognitive and expressive language development of VLBW preterm infants with term infants.
  • To identify the developmental trajectory and timing of delays in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study involving monthly evaluations of 12 VLBW preterm infants and 20 term infants.
  • Utilized the Protocol for Expressive Language and Cognition Development Observation (PELCDO).
  • Videotaped sessions and analyzed data according to the PELCDO protocol.

Main Results:

  • VLBW preterm infants demonstrated significantly later development in cognition and expressive language compared to term infants.
  • Positive correlations were observed between cognitive and expressive language development.
  • Developmental delays became more pronounced after 6 months of age, extending through the sensorimotor and into the preoperational periods.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive and expressive language delays are significant in VLBW preterm infants.
  • Continuous follow-up evaluations are essential for these infants.
  • Identifying the optimal timing for speech-language intervention is crucial for addressing these developmental needs.

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...