The natural history and predictive value of early language delays in very low birth weight infants

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 45 - 50
• Main Authors: Casiro, Oscar G., Moddemann, Diane M., Stanwick, Richard S., Cheang, Mary S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.07.1991; New York,NY Elsevier; Amsterdam
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Hearing Tests; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight - growth & development; Infant, Newborn; Intensive care medicine; Language Development; Language Tests - statistics & numerical data; longterm follow up; Medical sciences; neurological outcome; Predictive Value of Tests; premature infant; neurological outcome; longterm follow up; language development; premature infant; Human; Very low birthweight; Premature; Psychomotor development; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Language retardation; Follow up study; Language development; Child
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-3782(91)90042-2

A cohort of 28 VLBW ( ≤ 1500 g) infants was assessed at 1 and 3 years of age for hearing, language development and neurological status. Language delays were detected in 11 (39%) infants at 1 year, and in four (15%) at follow up at 3 years of age ( P < 0.05). Language quotients were significantly associated with perinatal variables at 1 but not at 3 years of age. Infants with neurological abnormalities had significantly lower language quotients at the 3-year follow up. No child with a normal language profile at 1 year exhibited a delay at 3 years of age.