Abstract This study determined whether very preterm infants, without frank cerebral damage, exhibited lower linguistic abilities and a higher rate of risk at 2 years as compared to full-term infants and normative values. It also aimed to identify whether risk of lexical delay was associated with absence of word combination and cognitive impairment and which biological and social risk factors were associated with them. One hundred fi fty preterms and 44 full terms, without frank cerebral damage, were examined by administering to their parents the Italian form of the MB-CDI in order to assess lexical and grammar production. Preterms’ cognitive development was evaluated through the Griffiths Scales. Preterms exhibited lower abilities in lexicon (word production, emergence of decontextualized production) and grammar (use of bounded morphology in verbs) and a higher rate of risk for lexical delay and/or absence of word combination than full terms. In detail, 18 % of preterms showed generalized delay in linguistic and cognitive competencies, 16 % a specific delay in language, and 4 % a specific cognitive impairment. Significant predictors were broncho-pulmonary dysplasia and male gender for risk of lexical delay, male gender for absence of word combination, and broncho-pulmonary dysplasia for cognitive impairment. Very preterm infants exhibit a higher risk for linguistic delay at 2 years, suggesting that in some infants this appears the expression of a general cognitive impairment, while in others it is specific for language. Risk factors associated to preterm birth should also be considered for an early identifi cation of risk for linguistic and cognitive delay.

Linguistic and cognitive delays in very preterm infants at 2 years: general or specific delays?

SANSAVINI, ALESSANDRA;GUARINI, ANNALISA;SAVINI, SILVIA
2011

Abstract

Abstract This study determined whether very preterm infants, without frank cerebral damage, exhibited lower linguistic abilities and a higher rate of risk at 2 years as compared to full-term infants and normative values. It also aimed to identify whether risk of lexical delay was associated with absence of word combination and cognitive impairment and which biological and social risk factors were associated with them. One hundred fi fty preterms and 44 full terms, without frank cerebral damage, were examined by administering to their parents the Italian form of the MB-CDI in order to assess lexical and grammar production. Preterms’ cognitive development was evaluated through the Griffiths Scales. Preterms exhibited lower abilities in lexicon (word production, emergence of decontextualized production) and grammar (use of bounded morphology in verbs) and a higher rate of risk for lexical delay and/or absence of word combination than full terms. In detail, 18 % of preterms showed generalized delay in linguistic and cognitive competencies, 16 % a specific delay in language, and 4 % a specific cognitive impairment. Significant predictors were broncho-pulmonary dysplasia and male gender for risk of lexical delay, male gender for absence of word combination, and broncho-pulmonary dysplasia for cognitive impairment. Very preterm infants exhibit a higher risk for linguistic delay at 2 years, suggesting that in some infants this appears the expression of a general cognitive impairment, while in others it is specific for language. Risk factors associated to preterm birth should also be considered for an early identifi cation of risk for linguistic and cognitive delay.
2011
Sansavini A.; Guarini A.; Savini S.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/116727
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