Risk factors for language development associated with prematurity

Medical records of 98 preterm-born children (1 to 6 years) were analyzed. Data on language development (DENVER II test) and several variables, such as gestational age, length of hospital stay and postnatal complications were collected. From the Denver II test results, the sample was divided into two groups: G1: 28 children with risk factors for linguistic impairment; G2: 70 children without risk factors for linguistic impairment. Regression models and Fisher test (α=0,05) were used for statistical inferences.

Results

The presence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), maternal age less than 18 years, birth weight less than 1000g and long hospital stay were identified as risk factors for language development. There was also an association between risk for language disorders and the presence of risk in motor and social areas.

Conclusion

Prematurity itself cannot be assigned as a risk factor for language development. In such cases, the variables associated with prematurity must be further assessed, limiting the involved risk factors. In this study, the presence of PIVH, BPD, maternal age less than 18 years, birth weight less than 1000 grams and long hospital stay were identified as risk factors for language development.

Infant, Premature; Risk factors; Child language; Language development; Language disorders; Neurodevelopmental disorders

Variable	Statistical weight
Maternal age at birth (<18 years)	Positive
Maternal age at birth (18-30 years)	Negative
Gestational age (<28 weeks)	Positive
Birth weight (<1000g)	Positive
Birth weight (>1000g)	Negative
Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage	Positive
Total length of hospital stay (15-30 days)	Negative
ICU length of hospital stay (more than 15 days)	Positive
NICU length of hospital stay (15-30 days)	Negative
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia	Positive
Anemia	Negative

Variable	Weight	p-value
Maternal age at birth (18-30 years)	-1.0245	<0.01297*
Birth weight (>1000g)	-1.5458	<0.00226*
Peri-intraventricular hemorrhage	1.2448	<0.0088*
ICU length of hospital stay (<15 days)	0.8464	<0.01100*

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E-mail: revista@audiologiabrasil.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Patricia Aparecida Zuanetti. E-mail: pati_zua@yahoo.com.br

Identification data	Birth date
	Current age
	Gender
Maternal variables	Maternal age at birth
	Use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy
	Diseases or complications during pregnancy
	Prenatal care (number of medical appointments)
	Type of delivery
Conditions at birth	Gestational age
	Birth weight
	Size for gestational age
	Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes
Posnatal conditions	Presence of neonatal jaundice
	Presence of peri-intraventricular hemorrhage
	Presence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia
	Presence of seizures
	Length of hospital stay (Total, in ICU and NICU)
	Need for O2 support
	Other diseases or postnatal complications
Denver II results	Presence of risk factor for language
	Presence of risk factor in another area of Denver II
	Age at which the risk factor was identified in Denver II
	Conduct adopted after identification of risk factors for language