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Communication skills of biologically at-risk neonates
1Department of Communication Pathology University of Pretoria.
Insights
This study developed a neonatal communication assessment protocol for at-risk infants. Results show significant communication delays, with bottle-feeding time predicting development, crucial for South Africa’s low birth weight population.
Area of Science:
- Speech-language pathology and audiology
- Neonatal development
- Communication sciences
Background:
- Early communication intervention is crucial for neonatal assessment and management.
- Limited diagnostic tools exist from a speech-language pathology and audiology perspective for neonates.
- Biologically at-risk neonates require specialized communication assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a comprehensive neonatal communication assessment protocol.
- To describe the communication skills of biologically at-risk neonates.
- To identify predictors of communication development in this population.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel neonatal communication assessment protocol.
- Assessment of 50 biologically at-risk neonates (852 g-3060 g birthweight).
- Compilation of a 13-factor high-risk register for communication abilities.
Main Results:
- Subjects' general development was within normal limits.
- Communication abilities showed a significant delay in the studied neonates.
- Time to successful bottle feeding emerged as the strongest predictor of communication development.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocol is valuable for assessing neonatal communication skills.
- Biologically at-risk neonates exhibit significant communication delays.
- Early identification of risk factors, like feeding ability, is vital for intervention, especially in high low birth weight incidence regions like South Africa.
Abstract:
Early communication intervention has advanced to include neonatal assessment and management. Currently, however, there are limited diagnostic tools developed from a speech-language pathology and audiology perspective. The purpose of the study was to design a comprehensive neonatal communication assessment protocol and use it to describe the communication skills of 50 biologically at-risk neonates (852 g-3060 g birthweight). The results indicated that the subjects' general development was within normal limits, but their communication abilities displayed a serious delay. A high risk register consisting of 13 factors predicting the subjects' communication abilities was compiled. The length of time before the subjects could successfully take bottle feeds was found to be the strongest predictor of their communication development. The study is of particular relevance to the present South African context which has an increased incidence of low birth weight, thus rendering an enlarged population of biologically at-risk neonates.