Impacts of premature birth and low birthweight on the development of language and executive function

Abstract

The increasing rate of survival of preterm newborns raises many questions given that preterm and low-birthweight children are at risk for impaired development of various cognitive abilities. The purpose of this article is to summarise the research evidence concerning the outcomes of language and executive function development in this risk group. The authors will discuss what influences neonatal factors and early neurological injuries have on the late outcomes of these high-risk children from the perspective of potential protective factors and intervention.