Parent-Reported Feeding Difficulties and Speech and Language Development in Late Preterm Infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Late preterm infants (LPIs) may experience unique developmental challenges compared to full-term infants (FTIs).
• Feeding difficulties (FDs) and speech-language disorders (SLDs) are common concerns in infant development.
• Understanding the interplay between prematurity, feeding, and speech development is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the incidence of feeding difficulties (FDs) between Slovenian late preterm infants (LPIs) and full-term infants (FTIs).
• To identify factors associated with FDs in LPIs.
• To investigate the potential link between FDs and later speech-language disorders (SLDs) in LPIs.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 177 infants (89 LPIs, 88 FTIs) born between July 2021 and June 2022.
• Parental questionnaires collected data on general information, health, birth history, and feeding/speech development.
• Clinical data were supplemented with medical records for comprehensive analysis.

Main Results:

• LPIs exhibited significantly higher rates of FDs (32.6%) than FTIs (11.4%).
• LPIs were breastfed less frequently and for shorter durations.
• LPIs showed increased challenges in speech and language development (34.1% vs. 15.3%).

Conclusions:

• Late preterm infants are at a heightened risk for both feeding difficulties and speech-language disorders.
• No significant association was found between feeding difficulties and later speech-language disorders in this cohort.
• Emphasizes the need for high-quality preventive care and timely multidisciplinary interventions for LPIs.