Language Development at the Age of 3 Years of Infants Malnourished in Utero

Abstract

To evaluate if language testing might provide useful information about the developmental outcome at pre-school age of term infants malnourished in utero, a group of these infants was studied in combination with a group of normally grown term infants matched for age, sex, birth rank and social class. Both groups were free from significant neonatal morbidity and debilitating diseases. Intrauterine malnutrition was defined as underweight for gestational age and the presence of wasting to select those S.G.A. infants with easily recognizable signs of malnutrition at birth. The Reynell Developmental Language Scales were used to test language and the results were related to a separate assessment of behaviour and neurology.

Both verbal comprehension and expressive language were significantly less developed in infants malnourished in utero. A firm relation was established between language delay and behaviour problems. It was concluded that language development can be used to assess the developmental progress of infants malnourished in utero if performed in combination with behaviour assessment. Many of these infants will benefit by speech therapy during behaviour therapy at pre-school age.

Key words

Language development - Neurology - Behaviour - Intrauterine malnutrition - Pre-school age