Attention Problems and Language Development in Preterm Low-Birth-Weight Children
Author Information
Author(s): Luisa A Ribeiro, Henrik D Zachrisson, Synnve Schjolberg, Heidi Aase, Nina Rohrer-Baumgartner, Per Magnus
Primary Institution: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Hypothesis
Attention problems are a precursor of language ability in preterm low-birth-weight children.
Conclusion
Early attention problems may predict later language difficulties in children born preterm.
Supporting Evidence
- Attention problems at 18 months significantly predicted changes in language ability from 18 to 36 months.
- Language ability at 18 months did not significantly predict attention problems at 36 months.
- Gender, age corrected for prematurity, and mother's education were important covariates.
Takeaway
Kids born too early and too small might have trouble paying attention, which can make it harder for them to learn to talk later.
Methodology
The study analyzed maternal reports on attention problems and language ability in a sample of preterm low-birth-weight infants using cross-lagged panel analyses.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on parent-reported data and exclusion of children with severe syndromes.
Limitations
The study relied on maternal reports, which may introduce bias, and did not account for multiple births.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 1288 preterm low-birth-weight children (700 girls, 588 boys) born before 38 weeks of gestation.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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