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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.
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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.
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Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
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Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
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Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
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Does preterm birth increase a child's risk for language impairment?

Alessandra Sansavini1, Annalisa Guarini, Laura M Justice

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. alessandra.sansavini@unibo.it

Early Human Development
|September 18, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Premature birth increases the risk of language impairment (LI) in young children. Approximately one in four preterms at 2.5 years and one in three at 3.5 years show significant language delays.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Child Language Acquisition
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Premature birth is linked to language development delays.
  • The precise risk of language impairment (LI) in preterms without brain damage is not well-established.
  • Early identification of language difficulties in preterms is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if preterms face a higher risk of LI at 2.5 and 3.5 years compared to full-term infants.
  • To identify predictors for language impairment risk in preterm children.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal assessment of 64 Italian very preterm infants at 2.5 and 3.5 years.
  • Age-matched full-term infants served as controls.
  • Individualized assessments of cognition and language ability were administered, categorizing children by LI risk status.

Main Results:

  • Preterms showed a higher risk for LI at both 2.5 (16.1%-24.1%) and 3.5 (34.4%) years.
  • The increased risk was statistically significant at 3.5 years (26.8% difference).
  • Mean length of utterance (MLU) at 2.5 years was the best predictor of LI risk at 3.5 years (72.73% sensitivity, 85% specificity).

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants have a significantly elevated risk for language impairment during the preschool years.
  • Early identification and targeted language interventions are essential for preterm children.
  • Mean length of utterance at 2.5 years can help predict later language impairment risk.