Events at Early Development: Are They Associated with Early Word Production and Neurodevelopmental Abilities at the Preschool Age?

Background: Obstetrical and neonatal complications and/or an adverse parenting environment are risk factors for language impairment, but little is known about their effects on early word production (late talking).

Aims: To determine obstetrical and neonatal risk factors in children with delayed word production; to assess the influence of the parenting environment on word production; to determine whether the toddler's vocabulary competence is related to his/her social competence; to document the neurodevelopmental outcome at the late preschool age.

Study Design: Prospective follow-up study. Based on word production at 18 months, children were retrospectively classified into consistent or transient late talkers and controls.

Subjects: Full-term infants, N=30 (mean GA 40.3+/-1.1 weeks, mean birth weight 3577+/-267 g) were assessed at 18 and 24 months; and 5 years and 7 months.

Methods: Austrian Communicative Development Inventories; Bayley Scales of Infant Development; Griffiths Developmental Scales.

Outcome Measures: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test; Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; Touwen's neurological examination.

Results And Conclusions: Lower Apgar scores and the need for neonatal intensive care were associated with delayed word production. The parents' educational and vocational levels were lower in late talkers. Early vocabulary competence correlated with social competence. With regard to the prediction of lexical and cognitive outcomes, late talkers did not differ from controls. Minor neurological dysfunctions (MND) were seen in nearly half of the late talkers and indicate the necessity to follow these children into school age, when MND might become more obvious and literacy can be assessed.