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Abstract

This study focuses on the early temperamental (TTQ = toddler temperament questionnaire), behavioral (IBR = infant behavior record), and cognitive precursors of impaired language functioning in preschool-age pre-terms infants. The study group consisted of 63 pre-term infants with a mean birth weight of 1246 +/- 437 g born in 1989-1991 in the University Central Hospital of Helsinki. Children with major disabilities (CP or mental retardation) were excluded. At the age of 4 years, 22% showed impaired language function. Logistic regression analysis showed that the Bayley MDI score was the best predictor in identifying an increased risk for language impairment. Behavioral characteristics were more strongly associated with subsequent language impairment than temperament.

Toddler temperament and prenatal exposure to lead and maternal depression

“…Figure 2 shows how children in each profile performed on the BSID language elements. Consistent with studies in other populations [ 68 , 70 , 72 ], more difficult toddler temperament was significantly associated with worse performance on tests of language ability in our cohort.

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“…Upon selection of a final latent class fit, we used MLR analysis to evaluate concordance between identified TTS profiles and performance on the BSID, to confirm that the identified profiles represented behaviorally consistent groupings. Based on prior noted associations between temperament and language performance [ 52 , 68 – 70 ], we expected children with the more difficult temperament profile to be associated with worse performance on BSID measures of language. We then regressed our prenatal exposures of interest with the LPA categories [ 69 ].…”

Regulation of corticoid and serotonin receptor brain system following early life exposure of glucocorticoids: Long term implications for the neurobiology of mood

“…Neurodevelopmental difficulties described in the premature infant survivors who are not neurologically impaired vary depending on the age of the child. At pre-school age (2–3 y), several reports indicate delayed psychomotor development and anxious/depressed and/or withdrawn behavior (Sajaniemi et al 2001; Stoelhorst et al 2003; Stoelhorst et al 2003). At school age and adolescence, increased incidences of social competence problems, attention disorders and hyperactivity have been described (Pharoah et al 1994; Stjernqvist and Svenningsen 1995; Schothorst and van Engeland 1996; Botting et al 1997; Saigal 2000; Hille et al 2001).…”

The temperament of preterm infant in preschool age

“…On the other side, it can guide paediatrician and neonatologist or, more generally, preterm infants cure system, in more focalizing and monitoring, within follow-up paths and related health status assessments, those cognitive, relational or motor control areas, correlated to temperament and that research data highlight in some way impaired. They are, in fact, extremely important processes for child's development [31-33], so that even the little impairment of them, seems to come with specific forms of evolutional maladjustments such as disorders and/or deficit of attention [3,22], hyperactivity or disorders in emotive self-regulation [2], learning [34-37] and language disorders [38] that tend to guide the preterm infants' life path in terms of "atypical" path [39]. …”

“…[33,17,2]. More specifically, while in Italian culture, the profile of temperament dimensions is defined in terms of "normality" and hence, adaptive to the reference socio-cultural context, in other cultures it is read using different parameters and models, and therefore, interpreted in terms of "difficult" functioning, that is not functional to adjustment to reality [40-43].…”