Language, Motor, and Cognitive Outcomes of Toddlers Who Were Born Preterm

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Preterm birth presents significant risks for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• Specific conditions in preterm infants, such as maternal diabetes or respiratory issues, may differentially affect development.
• Understanding comorbidities between language, motor, and cognitive skills is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate language, motor, and cognitive abilities in preterm infants across four distinct categories at 30 months corrected age.
• To investigate the comorbidity of these developmental skills and identify predictor variables.
• To compare outcomes between healthy preterm infants, infants of diabetic mothers, infants with respiratory distress syndrome, and infants with chronic lung disease.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 148 preterm infants was assessed at 30 months corrected age.
• Standardized assessment scores were analyzed using bivariate tests and logistic regression.
• Gestational age (GA) was controlled for in the analyses.

Main Results:

• Infants of diabetic mothers showed significantly lower overall language ability compared to healthy preterm infants, controlling for GA.
• Infants with chronic lung disease had significantly lower expressive language skills than those with respiratory distress syndrome.
• Children with any language delay were more likely to have cognitive, motor, or combined delays. Lower maternal education and younger GA predicted language and cognitive delays.

Conclusions:

• A biosystems approach is recommended for assessing preterm infants, considering maternal education, preterm diagnosis, and GA.
• These factors significantly impact language, motor, and cognitive outcomes in preterm children.
• Preterm infants with language delays should be screened for co-occurring motor and cognitive impairments.