Infant/toddler motor skills as predictors of cognition and language in children with and without positional skull deformation

Abstract

PURPOSE. To estimate associations between early motor abilities (at two age points, 7 and 18 months on average) and cognitive/language outcomes at age 3. To determine whether these associations are similar for children with and without positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB). METHODS. The Bayley Scales of Infant/Toddler Development III were given at all age points to 235 children with PPB and 167 without PPB. Linear regressions assessed longitudinal associations between fine and gross motor scales and cognition/language. Item analyses examined the contributions of specific motor skills. RESULTS. Associations between 7-month motor skills and cognition/language were modest overall (effect sizes [ES] = −0.08 to 0.10, p = .13 to .95). At 18 months, both fine and gross motor skills were associated with outcomes for children with PPB (ES = 0.21 to 0.41, p < .001 to .01), but among those without PPB, only fine motor skills were associated with outcomes (ES = 0.21 to 0.27, p < .001 to .001). CONCLUSIONS. Toddlers’ motor skills were associated with cognition and language at 3 years, particularly among children with PPB. Interventions targeting early motor development in infants and toddlers with PPB may have downstream benefits for other outcomes.

Effects of Single Manual Medicine Treatment for Infants with Postural and Movement Asymmetries and Positional Preference: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial – SMMT for IPMA

“…A particular problem is that the (spontaneous) course of the disease with its effects on the later sensomotoric development in children with conspicuous features has not been studied systematically nor in detail 11 22 46 47 . According to current findings in infant and childhood developmental neurology 48 49 and clinical experience, proprioceptive musculoskeletal coordination disorders can have complex effects on sensomotoric development 10 12 13 14 . Early optimization of postural activity is therefore a central component of pediatric efforts.…”

“…Nach der Score-Definition fielen cephaly. Dependent on age, different consequences concerning fine and gross motor skills, cognition or language development emerge [10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…Recent studies have shown, that below the age of two years, motor skills are particularly affected. In toddlers and preschoolers, deficits in cognitive and language development are more frequent [10][11][12][13][14]. According to Collet et al [13], the development of a positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly is considered as a marker and not a cause for developmental delays.…”

“…In toddlers and preschoolers, deficits in cognitive and language development are more frequent [10][11][12][13][14]. According to Collet et al [13], the development of a positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly is considered as a marker and not a cause for developmental delays. Early neuromotor deficits could have a cascade effect on other areas of child development.…”

The Impact of Maternal Anxiety on Early Child Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The relationship between motor skills and language, cognitive, social, and perceptual development has been intensively studied in recent years (Leonard and Hill, 2014 ; Leonard et al, 2015 ; Libertus and Violi, 2016 ; Libertus and Hauf, 2017 ; Collett et al, 2019 ). Interactions between cognition, language, and speech motor skills at an early developmental stage are also shown (Nip et al, 2011 ).…”