Supporting caregivers of children born prematurely in the development of language: A scoping review

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Roxanne Belanger1, Dominique Leroux1, Pascal Lefebvre1

  • 1School of Speech-Language Pathology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario.

Paediatrics & Child Health
|February 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Parental education is key for preterm infants

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Development
  • Pediatric Language Acquisition
  • Parental Education Strategies

Background:

  • Premature infants face higher risks for developmental impairments compared to full-term peers.
  • While research on preterm infant outcomes is extensive, parental education for home care is less explored.
  • Neonatal follow-up programs and healthcare practitioners support parents, fostering resilience through child development education.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify best practices for early intervention in premature children focusing on preschool language development.
  • To synthesize current knowledge on effective strategies for supporting language acquisition in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

  • A scoping review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
  • Literature search focused on early intervention and language development in premature children.

Main Results:

  • Four key themes emerged: parental training during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, education on language development and parental responsiveness, language-supporting activities, and continuous professional monitoring.
  • Parental training and education on responsive caregiving are crucial for language development.
  • Structured activities and ongoing professional support enhance language learning in preterm children.

Conclusions:

  • Findings offer guidance for healthcare professionals on educating parents about best practices for stimulating language development in their premature children.
  • Effective parental education can significantly improve language outcomes for infants born prematurely.
  • Emphasizes the role of healthcare providers in empowering parents to support their child's early language skills.
Abstract

Keywords:
Language developmentNeonatal follow-up programParental educationPrematurityScoping review

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