In Infants' Hands: Identification of Preverbal Infants at Risk for Primary Language Delay

Abstract We investigated whether children born preterm are at risk for language delay using a sibling-control design in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Participants included 26,769 siblings born between gestational weeks 23 and 42. Language delay was assessed when the children were 1.5, 3, and 5 years old. To adjust for familial risk factors, comparisons were conducted between preterm and full-term siblings. Pregnancy-specific risk factors were controlled for by means of observed variables. Findings showed that preterm children born before week 37 had increased risk for language delays at 1.5 years. At 3 and 5 years, only children born before week 34 had increased risk for language delay. Children born weeks 29–33 and before week 29 had increased risk for language delay at 1.5 years (RR = 4.51, 95% CI [3.45, 5.88]; RR = 10.32, 95% CI [6.7, 15.80]), 3 years (RR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.02, 2.21]; RR = 2.78, 95% CI [1.09, 7.07]), and 5 years (RR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.06, 2.51]; RR = 2.98, 95% CI [0.87, 10.26]), respectively. In conclusion, children born preterm are at risk for language delays, with familial confounders only explaining a moderate share of the association. This suggests a cause-effect relationship between early preterm birth and risk for language delay in preschool children.

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Word recognition and cognitive profiles of Chinese pre-school children at risk for dyslexia through language delay or familial history of dyslexia

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01837.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 071103060106005-??? ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Catherine McBride-Chang ◽

Fanny Lam ◽

Catherine Lam ◽

Sylvia Doo ◽

Simpson W.L. Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Word Recognition ◽

School Children ◽

Language Delay ◽

Cognitive Profiles ◽

Children At Risk ◽

Familial History ◽

History Of

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Identification of infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder and developmental language delay prior to 12 months

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361314521329 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 327-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carole A Samango-Sprouse ◽

Emily J Stapleton ◽

Farhad Aliabadi ◽

Robert Graw ◽

Rebecca Vickers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

At Risk ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Language Delay

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Language Development in Children at Risk for Severe Expressive Language Delay.

The Japan Journal of Logopedics and Phoniatrics ◽

10.5112/jjlp.35.240 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 240-254

Author(s):

Naomi Iizuka ◽

Tsuneo Satake ◽

Junko Itoh ◽

Takeshi Tohkawa

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Language Development ◽

Expressive Language ◽

Language Delay ◽

Children At Risk ◽

Expressive Language Delay

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Parent-implemented language intervention delivered by therapy assistants for two-year-olds at risk of language difficulties: A case series

Child Language Teaching and Therapy ◽

10.1177/0265659019842244 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 113-124

Author(s):

David McDonald ◽

Sarah Colmer ◽

Susan Guest ◽

Dawn Humber ◽

Charlotte Ward ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Language Use ◽

Expressive Language ◽

Language Intervention ◽

Language Delay ◽

Gross Motor ◽

Language Difficulties ◽

Expressive Language Delay ◽

Typical Range

The aims of this small-scale study were to explore the feasibility and outcomes of a parent-implemented intervention for two-year-olds at risk of language difficulties, and to explore the implications for the public health model of speech and language therapy (SLT). This adds to limited research into targeted SLT public health interventions. It is the first study to investigate early language intervention delivered by trained therapy assistants (TAs) rather than clinicians. Nine children aged between 26 and 31 months took part. Seven (78%) completed the six-session intervention. The outcome measure was the Words subscale of the Language Use Inventory. The gross motor subscale of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire was used as a control measure. Children’s skills were assessed twice before intervention and once afterwards. At baseline, six participants had expressive language delay and no wider speech, language and communication needs (SLCNs). Five of this subgroup showed language use skills within the typical range following intervention. At baseline, three participants had expressive language delay and previously undetected receptive language and/or social interaction difficulties. None of this sub-group showed improved age-adjusted language use skills following intervention. All nine participants had gross motor skills in the typical range at each time point. These exploratory findings suggest this targeted intervention is feasible. This study presents no evidence of short-term impact of this intervention for two-year-olds with expressive language delay and wider SLCNs. These findings suggest this targeted language intervention for two-year-olds may be associated with accelerated language development for some two-year-olds at risk of language difficulties because of expressive language delay; and may help identify two-year-olds with previously undetected wider SLCNs, and therefore facilitate early access to specialist support. We highlight limitations in the study size, design and outcome measures, and identify how these preliminary findings can inform future research.

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Language function following preterm birth: prediction using machine learning

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01779-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Evdoxia Valavani ◽

Manuel Blesa ◽

Paola Galdi ◽

Gemma Sullivan ◽

Bethan Dean ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Preterm Birth ◽

Language Development ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Accurate Prediction ◽

Language Delay ◽

Preterm Neonates ◽

Early Interventions ◽

List Type ◽

Mri Features

Abstract Background Preterm birth can lead to impaired language development. This study aimed to predict language outcomes at 2 years corrected gestational age (CGA) for children born preterm. Methods We analysed data from 89 preterm neonates (median GA 29 weeks) who underwent diffusion MRI (dMRI) at term-equivalent age and language assessment at 2 years CGA using the Bayley-III. Feature selection and a random forests classifier were used to differentiate typical versus delayed (Bayley-III language composite score <85) language development. Results The model achieved balanced accuracy: 91%, sensitivity: 86%, and specificity: 96%. The probability of language delay at 2 years CGA is increased with: increasing values of peak width of skeletonized fractional anisotropy (PSFA), radial diffusivity (PSRD), and axial diffusivity (PSAD) derived from dMRI; among twins; and after an incomplete course of, or no exposure to, antenatal corticosteroids. Female sex and breastfeeding during the neonatal period reduced the risk of language delay. Conclusions The combination of perinatal clinical information and MRI features leads to accurate prediction of preterm infants who are likely to develop language deficits in early childhood. This model could potentially enable stratification of preterm children at risk of language dysfunction who may benefit from targeted early interventions. Impact A combination of clinical perinatal factors and neonatal DTI measures of white matter microstructure leads to accurate prediction of language outcome at 2 years corrected gestational age following preterm birth. A model that comprises clinical and MRI features that has potential to be scalable across centres. It offers a basis for enhancing the power and generalizability of diagnostic and prognostic studies of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with language impairment. Early identification of infants who are at risk of language delay, facilitating targeted early interventions and support services, which could improve the quality of life for children born preterm.

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Comprehensive Treatment of Children with Recurrent Serous Otitis Media

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/019459988108900427 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 89 (4) ◽

pp. 658-665 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Marion P. Downs ◽

Bruce Jafek ◽

Raymond P. Wood

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Otitis Media ◽

Hearing Aid ◽

Language Delay ◽

Home Language ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Language Delays ◽

Hearing Aid Use ◽

Language Problems ◽

Serous Otitis Media

Myringotomy and tube procedures provide effective relief in the majority of cases of serous otitis media, but at least 14% of children are estimated to have recurrence. These children may be at risk for language delays that have been suspected of causing later language problems. After three months' duration of serous otitis, a language evaluation should be given the infant or child. Any language delay should be promptly treated with a home language stimulation program and, in more extreme cases, there should be a consideration of hearing aid use.

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Technology to Guide Data-Driven Intervention Decisions: Effects on Language Growth of Young Children at Risk for Language Delay

Council review ◽

10.1177/0014402920938003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 74-91

Author(s):

Jay Buzhardt ◽

Charles R. Greenwood ◽

Fan Jia ◽

Dale Walker ◽

Naomi Schneider ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Web Application ◽

Home Visiting ◽

Language Delay ◽

Data Driven ◽

Children At Risk ◽

Home Visitors ◽

Randomized Control ◽

Language Growth ◽

K 12

Data-driven decision making (DDDM) helps educators identify children not responding to intervention, individualize instruction, and monitor response to intervention in multitiered systems of support (MTSS). More prevalent in K–12 special education, MTSS practices are emerging in early childhood. In previous reports, we described the Making Online Decisions (MOD) web application to guide DDDM for educators serving families with infants and toddlers in Early Head Start home-visiting programs. Findings from randomized control trials indicated that children at risk for language delay achieved significantly larger growth on the Early Communication Indicator formative language measure if their home visitors used the MOD to guide DDDM, compared to children whose home visitors were self-guided in their DDDM. Here, we describe findings from a randomized control trial indicating that these superior MOD effects extend to children’s language growth on standardized, norm-referenced language outcomes administered by assessors who were blind to condition and that parents’ use of language promotion strategies at home mediated these effects. Implications and limitations are discussed.

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Differences in Tobacco Use Among a Sample of At-Risk Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese Adult Men Living in the SF Bay Area

Tobacco Use Insights ◽

10.1177/1179173x19867947 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 1179173X1986794

Author(s):

Daniel E Toleran ◽

Robynn S Battle ◽

Phillip Gardiner

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Substance Use ◽

Ethnic Groups ◽

Primary Language ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Place Of Birth ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

The Past ◽

Language Spoken At Home ◽

At Home

Background: Smoking among Asian men has been studied, but differences in tobacco and cigarette use among US- and non-US-born Asian subgroups, especially those at risk for substance use or sexually transmitted diseases, has not been well-studied. Aims: To learn about the smoking of cigarettes or blunts among Asian ethnic groups, and whether place of birth, age, or primary language spoken at home is associated with smoking. Methods: Study participants were 125 adult (age > 18 years) Chinese, Filipino, or Vietnamese men living in San Francisco, Daly City, or San Jose, California, who self-reported substance use in the past 30 days. Information collected included sexual orientation, past year contact with the criminal justice system, place of birth, and primary language spoken at home. Bivariate analyses were used to compare the differences in self-reported smoking of cigarettes or tobacco-marijuana blunts by ethnicity, age, place of birth, and primary language spoken at home. Results: Filipinos had significantly higher rate of cigarette use (51%; P = .02) and smoking blunts (28%; P = .02) compared with Chinese (23% and 5%, respectively) or Vietnamese (34% and 17%, respectively); US-born Filipinos also had more days of cigarette use in the past 30 days (16 days; P = .05) compared with Chinese (8 days) or Vietnamese (6 days) participants. Conclusions: This study found differences in self-reported rates of cigarette and blunt use among Asian ethnic groups which suggest opportunities for targeted interventions. Future studies of tobacco or blunts use for these largely immigrant groups should take into account country of birth and language spoken at home in developing tobacco prevention services for this population.

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Overcoming barriers to radiotherapy in at-risk urban populations: primary language as a driver of initiation disparity

Journal of Radiation Oncology ◽

10.1007/s13566-017-0332-5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 91-96

Author(s):

Sean A. Koerner ◽

Saul Arber

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Primary Language ◽

Urban Populations

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