Article

The purpose of this study was to assess the relation of perinatal risk
factors with later development of specific language impairment (SLI). METHOD: In
a case-control study, 179 children attending special needs schools for SLI were
matched with non-affected children attending mainstream schools. Both groups
consisted of 134 males and 45 females (age range 4-13 y; mean age 9 y, SD 2 y 4
mo). Data on duration of pregnancy, birthweight, delivery complications, birth
characteristics, and Apgar scores were collected from the Preventive Child Health
Care files of the Municipal Health Service. RESULTS: The gestational age of the
children with SLI (mean 39.6 wks, SD 0.1 wk) and for the comparison group (mean
39.4 wks, SD 0.1 wk) and the birthweight of children with SLI (mean 3330.4 g; SD
41.4 g) and for the comparison group (mean 3388.1g; SD 39.8 g) were not
statistically different; neither were other pregnancy and birth characteristics,
with the exception of the Apgar scores (effect of group for Apgar score after 1
min p=0.045; after 5 min p=0.001). The difference in Apgar scores was larger for
females than for males (effect of group x sex for Apgar score after 1 min
p=0.049; after 5 min p=0.043). INTERPRETATION: The relation between Apgar scores
and SLI together with the influence of sex may be meaningful for predicting
modelling and for understanding the causal pathway for SLI.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2013 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS