Early language processing efficiency and pre-literacy outcomes in children born full term and preterm

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Linguistics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Early language processing efficiency in toddlerhood predicts later language outcomes.
• Few studies have examined the link between early language processing and pre-literacy skills.
• The influence of birth status (full-term vs. preterm) on these relationships is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between early language processing efficiency and pre-literacy skills.
• To determine if these relationships differ between full-term and preterm children.
• To explore the mediating role of expressive language in this developmental pathway.

Main Methods:

• Assessed 94 children (49 full-term, 45 preterm) at 18 months using the looking-while-listening task for processing speed and accuracy.
• Evaluated pre-literacy skills (print knowledge, phonological awareness) and expressive language at 4.5 years.
• Utilized regression analyses to examine predictive relationships and mediation effects.

Main Results:

• Early processing speed and accuracy significantly predicted pre-literacy outcomes, accounting for 7.8%-19.5% variance.
• These effects were largely mediated by expressive language abilities.
• Processing speed also showed a direct relationship with phonological awareness, independent of other factors.
• No moderation by birth group was observed, indicating similar developmental pathways for full-term and preterm children.

Conclusions:

• Early language processing efficiency is crucial for developing expressive language, which in turn supports pre-literacy skills.
• Processing speed plays an independent role in literacy development.
• The developmental trajectory from early language processing to pre-literacy skills appears consistent across full-term and preterm children.