Parents' Speech in the NICU and Language Development of Very Preterm Children at 12 and 24 Months.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

It is unclear if speech input in neonatal units improves delayed language development in very preterm infants. This longitudinal study investigated whether the parents' speech in family-centered neonatal units associated with language outcomes in children born very preterm.

Study design

The auditory environment of 82 infants born <32 gestational weeks was recorded using Language Environment Analysis at 32-34 weeks of postmenstrual age. The language environment was analyzed for the total recording time and the periods when the parents were present. Receptive and expressive language skills were measured at 1 year (MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory) and 2 years of corrected age (Reynell Developmental Language Scales III).

Results

Father's word

SUBMITTER: Aija A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12240094 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature