Cristina Mei1,2, Sheena Reilly1,3, Dinah Reddihough1,2, Fiona Mensah1,2, Lindsay Pennington4, Angela Morgan1,2. 1. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 2. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 3. Menzies Health Institute, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia. 4. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Abstract
AIM: To examine the frequency, range, and features of language impairment in a community sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 5 to 6 years. METHOD: Children with CP born between 2005 and 2007 were identified through the Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register. Eighty-four participants were recruited, representing 48% of the contacted families. The recruited sample was representative of non-participants. Participants completed standardized measures of receptive and expressive language, and non-verbal cognition. RESULTS: Language impairment was identified in 61% (51/84) of participants. Twenty-four per cent (20/84) were non-verbal. Co-occurring receptive and expressive language impairment was common (37/84, 44%). Isolated receptive (6/84, 7%) and expressive (4/84, 5%) impairments occurred relatively infrequently. At a group level, verbal and non-verbal participants demonstrated deficits across language subdomains (i.e. semantics, syntax, morphology), rather than in single domains. Cognitive impairment and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V were associated with higher rates of language impairment (odds ratio [OR] 15.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2-71.8 and OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.8-40.3 respectively). Only cognition was independently associated with language impairment when both of these factors were considered within a multivariable model. INTERPRETATION: Language impairment was common in 5-year-old and 6-year-old children with CP, affecting three out of five children. Participants were impaired across linguistic subdomains indicating a generalized language deficit. Findings suggest most children would benefit from a clinical language assessment. To target services effectively, subgroups of individuals with CP at greatest risk for language impairment need to be identified.
AIM: To examine the frequency, range, and features of language impairment in a community sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 5 to 6 years. METHOD:Children with CP born between 2005 and 2007 were identified through the Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register. Eighty-four participants were recruited, representing 48% of the contacted families. The recruited sample was representative of non-participants. Participants completed standardized measures of receptive and expressive language, and non-verbal cognition. RESULTS:Language impairment was identified in 61% (51/84) of participants. Twenty-four per cent (20/84) were non-verbal. Co-occurring receptive and expressive language impairment was common (37/84, 44%). Isolated receptive (6/84, 7%) and expressive (4/84, 5%) impairments occurred relatively infrequently. At a group level, verbal and non-verbal participants demonstrated deficits across language subdomains (i.e. semantics, syntax, morphology), rather than in single domains. Cognitive impairment and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V were associated with higher rates of language impairment (odds ratio [OR] 15.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2-71.8 and OR 8.5, 95% CI 1.8-40.3 respectively). Only cognition was independently associated with language impairment when both of these factors were considered within a multivariable model. INTERPRETATION:Language impairment was common in 5-year-old and 6-year-old children with CP, affecting three out of five children. Participants were impaired across linguistic subdomains indicating a generalized language deficit. Findings suggest most children would benefit from a clinical language assessment. To target services effectively, subgroups of individuals with CP at greatest risk for language impairment need to be identified.
Authors: S Fiori; C Ragoni; I Podda; A Chilosi; C Amador; P Cipriani; A Guzzetta; G Sgandurra Journal: BMC Neurol Date: 2022-07-06 Impact factor: 2.903
Authors: Emma Vaillant; Johanna J M Geytenbeek; Elise P Jansma; Kim J Oostrom; R Jeroen Vermeulen; Annemieke I Buizer Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2020-08-27 Impact factor: 5.449