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Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
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Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model

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Deficient language acquisition in children with single suture craniosynostosis and deformational posterior

Pirjo Korpilahti1, Pia Saarinen, Jyri Hukki

  • 1Department of Behavioural Sciences and Philosophy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. pirjo.korpilahti@utu.fi

Child'S Nervous System : Chns : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
|November 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with single suture craniosynostosis (SSC) face a higher risk of language impairments. Deformational posterior plagiocephaly also presents developmental risks for language skills in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric neurology
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Speech and language pathology

Background:

  • Single suture craniosynostosis (SSC) involves premature fusion of cranial sutures.
  • Deformational posterior plagiocephaly is a common head shape anomaly in infants.
  • Early language development is a critical indicator of neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess language acquisition at age 3 in children with SSC.
  • To compare language development in SSC versus deformational posterior plagiocephaly.
  • To identify potential risks for language impairment in these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective evaluation of language skills in 61 infants at a mean age of 3 years 4 months.
  • Study population included 20 sagittal SSC, 12 other SSC, and 29 deformational posterior plagiocephaly cases.
  • Comparison between operated (n=49) and non-operated (n=12) deformational posterior plagiocephaly groups.

Main Results:

  • 49% of subjects had normal linguistic development; 21% had severe speech-language disorders.
  • The prevalence of severe language disorders was three times higher than in the general population.
  • Children with sagittal SSC performed better than other SSC types; deformational posterior plagiocephaly showed language deficits in both operated and non-operated groups.

Conclusions:

  • Nonsyndromic SSC presents a significant risk for specific language impairment, evident in early infancy.
  • Deviant language development is a concern in infants with SSC.
  • Contrary to prior beliefs, deformational posterior plagiocephaly carries a developmental risk for language deficits, regardless of surgical intervention.
Abstract

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