Predictors of early vocabulary growth in children born preterm and full term: A study of processing speed and medical complications.

Predictors of early vocabulary growth in children born preterm and full term: A study of processing speed and medical complications.
Child Neuropsychol. 2019 Feb 04;:1-21
Authors: Marchman VA, Ashland MD, Loi EC, Adams KA, Fernald A, Feldman HM
Abstract
Delays in expressive vocabulary may be harbingers of long-term language difficulties. In toddlers born full term (FT), individual differences in language processing speed are associated with variation in expressive vocabulary growth. Children born preterm (PT) are at increased risk for persistent language deficits. Here, we evaluate predictors of early vocabulary growth in PT toddlers in relation to two sources of variability: language processing speed and medical complications of prematurity. Vocabulary growth from 16 to 30 months (adjusted for degree of prematurity) was modeled longitudinally using parent reports in English-speaking FT (n = 63; ≥37 weeks, ≥2495 g) and PT (n = 69; ≤32 weeks, <1800 g) children, matched on sex and socioeconomic status. Children were tested in the "looking-while-listening task" at 18 months to derive a measure of language processing speed. Each PT child was assessed for number of medical complications (13 maximum), based on medical chart reviews. PT and FT children displayed similar vocabulary trajectories; however, birth group disparities began to emerge by 30 months. PT children were slower in language processing speed than FT childr...

Source: Child Neuropsychology - February 4, 2019 Category: Child Development Authors: Marchman VA, Ashland MD, Loi EC, Adams KA, Fernald A, Feldman HM Tags: Child Neuropsychol Source Type: research