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Preferred Parental Language and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Among Infants With Acute Provoked Neonatal Seizures in

Greta S Peng1, Karin Halsey2, Courtney J Wusthoff3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

Pediatric Neurology
|January 31, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children with parents preferring a non-English language (NELP) had significantly worse neurodevelopmental outcomes and higher odds of impairment by age two. This highlights the need to address social factors impacting child development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • Parental non-English language preference (NELP) is linked to poorer pediatric health outcomes.
  • Limited data exists on NELP's impact on neurodevelopment in infants with neonatal seizures.
  • This study investigates the association between parental NELP and infant neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between parental non-English language preference (NELP) and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants diagnosed with neonatal seizures.
  • To identify potential disparities in developmental trajectories based on parental language preference.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter cohort of infants from the Neonatal Seizure Registry-II was analyzed.
  • Parental NELP was identified via interpreter use for research consent and surveys.
  • Neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months using the Warner Initial Developmental Evaluation of Adaptive and Functional Skills (WIDEA-FS).

Main Results:

  • Infants with parental NELP (6% of cohort) showed a trend towards lower WIDEA-FS scores (mean difference -13 points, P=0.08).
  • Children with parental NELP had significantly higher odds (4.9 times) of functional developmental impairment (P=0.017).

Conclusions:

  • Parental NELP is associated with increased risk of functional developmental impairment in infants with neonatal seizures at 24 months.
  • The findings suggest NELP reflects social determinants, not a direct biological impact, affecting developmental opportunities.
  • Addressing social drivers is crucial to mitigate neurodevelopmental gaps for children with parental NELP.
Abstract

Keywords:
Health equityLanguage-related health inequitiesLimited English proficiencyNeonatal seizuresNeurodevelopmentNon-English language preferenceParental language preferenceSpanish language preference

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