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Perinatal risk factors and first-year vocalizations: influence on preschool language and motor performance
T S Jensen1, B Bøggild-Andersen, J Schmidt
1Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Infants with neonatal risk factors showed delayed prelinguistic vocalizations, impacting later language and motor skills. Early analysis of infant sounds may identify children at risk for developmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Neonatal risk factors can impact infant development.
- Early vocalizations are crucial precursors to language development.
- Identifying at-risk infants early is vital for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neonatal risk factors and early vocalizations.
- To determine if early vocalization patterns predict later language and motor outcomes.
- To explore the potential of infant vocalization analysis for early identification of developmental risks.
Main Methods:
- Systematic tape-recording of spontaneous vocalizations in infants with and without neonatal risk factors during the first year of life.
- Comprehensive assessment of language, speech, intelligence, and motor function at six years of age.
- Statistical analysis comparing vocalization patterns and developmental outcomes between at-risk and control groups.
Main Results:
- Infants with neonatal risk factors exhibited significantly fewer reduplicated syllables and consonants in their first year.
- At six years, a higher proportion of at-risk children (6/9) presented with abnormal language test results compared to controls (2/20).
- Children with abnormal language tests showed poorer motor performance and had fewer consonant and reduplication sounds as infants.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal risk factors may lead to delays in prelinguistic sound production.
- Analysis of infant vocalizations can serve as an early indicator for potential language disorders.
- Early identification through vocalization analysis can facilitate timely support for at-risk children.
Abstract:
Spontaneous vocalizations of nine children with neonatal risk factors were systematically tape-recorded during the first year of life, as were those of 20 randomly chosen children without such risk factors. All the children were also given a battery of tests measuring language, speech, intelligence and motor function at six years. Cumulated tape-recordings for the periods six to 11 months and six to 14 months showed the infants with risk factors to have a significant reduction in various reduplicated syllables and consonants during the first year compared to those without risk factors. At six years, six of the nine at-risk children had an abnormal language test, as did two of the 20 without neonatal risk factors. Children with abnormal language tests performed significantly more poorly on various motor tasks; they also had had significantly fewer reduplications and consonants during infant vocalizations than the children with normal language tests. Perinatal risk factors may delay the production of prelinguistic sounds, and analysis of vocalizations might help to identify children who are at risk for later language disorders.