Putnick, Diane L., Bornstein, Marc H., Eryigit-Madzwamuse, Suna and Wolke, Dieter (2017) Long-term stability of language performance in very preterm, moderate-late preterm, and term children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 181 . 74-79.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.09.006

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Abstract

Objective
To investigate whether children born very preterm, moderate-late preterm, and term differ in their average level and individual-difference stability in language performance over time.

Study design
Language was assessed at 5 and 20 months and 4, 6, and 8 years of age in 204 very preterm (<32 weeks' gestation), 276 moderate-late preterm (32-36 weeks' gestation), and 268 term (37-41 weeks' gestation) children from the Bavarian Longitudinal Study.

Results
Very preterm children consistently performed worse than term-born children, and moderate-late preterm children scored in between. Language performance was stable from 5 months through 8 years in all gestation groups combined, and stability increased between each succeeding wave. Stability was stronger between 5 months and 4 years in very preterm than moderate-late preterm and term groups, but this differential stability attenuated when covariates (child nonverbal intelligence and family socioeconomic status) were controlled.

Conclusions
Preterm children, even moderate-late preterm, are at risk for poorer language performance than term-born children. Because individual differences in language performance are increasingly stable from 20 months to 8 years in all gestation groups, pediatricians who attend to preterm children and observe language delays should refer them to language intervention at the earliest age seen.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Science > Psychology Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Premature infants, Verbal ability in children
Journal or Publication Title:	The Journal of Pediatrics
Publisher:	Mosby, Inc.
ISSN:	0022-3476
Official Date:	February 2017
Dates:	Date Event February 2017 Published 10 October 2016 Available 7 September 2016 Accepted 23 March 2016 Submitted
Date of first compliant deposit:	17 October 2016
Volume:	181
Page Range:	74-79.e3
DOI:	10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.09.006
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Germany. Bundesministerium für Bildung und Wissenschaft [Ministry of Education and Science]
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