Preschool Language Outcomes of Children With History of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Very Low Birth Weight

Abstract

A prospective follow-up of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and term control infants was conducted. The effects of BPD and VLBW on speech-language development and specific language impairment at 3 years of age were investigated, controlling for the effects of sociodemographic and other medical risk factors. Groups were compared on cognitive and speech-language outcomes using the Battelle Language and Bayley Mental Scales of Infant Development. Children with a history of BPD had lower receptive language skills than VLBW children without BPD, who in turn had lower receptive skills than term children. Children with a history of BPD also had lower expressive skills than the two comparison groups, whereas VLBW children without BPD did not differ in expressive language from term children. When IQ score was controlled, children with BPD demonstrated specific language impairment in receptive language. The presence of patent ductus arteriosis (PDA) was the best predictor of language deficits and the combined occurrence of PDA and BPD resulted in differentially lower language scores. Neurologic complications, low socioeconomic status, and minority race were also significant predictors of language delay. The findings emphasize the importance of considering both medical and sociodemographic factors in evaluating the risk of VLBW infants for poorer speech-language outcomes.

Screening for Speech and Language Delay in Preschool Children: Systematic Evidence Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force

“…Nine studies conducted in English-speaking populations [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] and 7 studies from non-English-speaking populations 45-51 met inclusion criteria ( Table 2). The most consistently reported risk factors include a family history of speech and language delay, male gender, and perinatal risk factors; however, their role in screening is unclear.…”

“…37,39,42 Three 37,41,43 of 5 studies reported an association between lower maternal education level and language delay, and 3 studies 41-43 of 4 that evaluated paternal education level reported a similar relationship. Other associated risk factors that were reported less consistently included childhood illnesses, 36,40 born late in the family birth order, 42 family size, 39 older parents 39 or younger mother 43 at birth, and low socioeconomic status (SES) or minority race. 40 One study that evaluated history of asthma found no association with speech and language delay.…”

“…Other associated risk factors that were reported less consistently included childhood illnesses, 36,40 born late in the family birth order, 42 family size, 39 older parents 39 or younger mother 43 at birth, and low socioeconomic status (SES) or minority race. 40 One study that evaluated history of asthma found no association with speech and language delay. 39 The 7 studies that assessed risk in non-English-speak- 47 cross-sectional, 45 prospective-cohort, [48][49][50][51] and concurrent-comparison 46 designs.…”

Factors affecting vocabulary acquisition at age 2 in children born between 23 and 28 weeks' gestation

“…3 Apart from gestational age, several risk factors have been associated with poor development. These include abnormal cranial ultrasound scan, 4,5 bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 4,5 longer hospital stay, 6 multiplicity, 7 and male sex. [7][8][9] Children with poor growth also tend to have poorer developmental outcome.…”

Impact of Early Physiotherapy Intervention on Neurodevelopment in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants

“…There are various longitudinal studies related to the developmental outcome of infants born prematurely 10,11,12 . The early intervention institute at Utah University reviewed 316 articles suggested that early intervention has immediate positive effect 13 .…”