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Gestational age and birth weight variations in young children with language impairment at an early communication

Lauren C Fouché1, Alta Kritzinger, Talita Le Roux

  • 1Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria. laurenc.fouche@gmail.com.

The South African Journal of Communication Disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Kommunikasieafwykings
|October 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Nearly 40% of children at an early communication intervention clinic had low birth weight (LBW) or preterm birth (PTB). This highlights LBW and PTB as significant origins of language impairment in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Speech-Language Pathology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • South Africa faces high rates of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW), affecting 14.17% of newborns.
  • LBW and/or PTB are linked to numerous conditions, including language impairments.
  • Early identification of language issues stemming from LBW/PTB by speech-language therapists can be challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of LBW and/or PTB in children attending an early communication intervention (ECI) clinic.
  • To compare the incidence of LBW/PTB with full-term births in this population.
  • To identify associated conditions in children with LBW and/or PTB at the ECI clinic.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of data from 530 children aged 3-74 months was conducted.
  • The study focused on children presenting with language impairment, which was observed in 91.9% of the cohort.
  • Data on birth weight, gestational age, and associated developmental and perinatal factors were examined.

Main Results:

  • Almost 40% of children in the ECI clinic caseload had experienced LBW and/or PTB.
  • Late PTB constituted the largest category within the LBW/PTB group.
  • Associated factors included prenatal risks (e.g., small-for-gestational age), perinatal risks (e.g., caesarean section), and primary developmental conditions. Secondary language impairment was linked to genetic conditions and global developmental delay.

Conclusions:

  • The study found a surprisingly high frequency of LBW and/or PTB among children with language impairments at the ECI clinic.
  • These findings underscore the critical role of LBW and PTB as underlying factors contributing to language impairment in nearly 40% of the clinic's patients.
  • The results emphasize the need for increased awareness and targeted interventions for children with a history of LBW/PTB presenting with communication difficulties.
Abstract

Keywords:
associated conditionsearly communication interventionlanguage impairmentlow birth weightpreterm birth

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