Reading and Oral Language Skills in Children With Developmental Language Disorder: Influence of Socioeconomic, Educational, and Family Variables

Maternal Gatekeeping in Children with Developmental Language Disorder

Background

Based on previous studies reporting language disorders associated with maternal overload and changes in parenting practices, this study aimed to investigate maternal gatekeeping and overprotectiveness in developmental language disorder (DLD).

Methods

Forty-five children with DLD and 46 children with typical language development (TLD) children were included in this study. To assess the level of maternal gatekeeping and overprotectiveness, we employed Maternal Gatekeeping Scale (MGS) and Parent Attitude Scale (PAS). Additionally, participant's language abilities were evaluated using Test of Early Language Development-3 (TELD-3), and their overall developmental status was assessed using Denver Development Screening Test-2 (DDST-II). Immitance-metric assessment and auto-acoustic emission testing were also used to assess hearing functions.

Results

Mean PAS-overprotection (34.1 ± 8.4, 24.3 ± 5.9, P < .001) and MGS total scores (141.7 ± 24.1, 115.7 ± 20.5, P < .001) in children with DLD were significantly higher than those of the TLD. Factors affecting MGS scores were investigated using Multiple linear regression analysis. DLD diagnosis (β = 14.195, P = .029), PAS-overprotection (β = 1.158, P = .001) and family income level (β = 9.643, P = .045) were found as significantly associated with MGS scores. In addition, PAS-overprotective obtained to have a partial mediating role in the relationship between DLD diagnosis and MGS scores (β = .391, P < .001).

Conclusion

Present study reveals that maternal gatekeeping is associated with DLD and overprotection. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating motherhood practices and fostering independency supportive attitudes in the care for children with DLD.

Language outcomes at 18-24 months of preterm infants from US Spanish- and English-speaking homes

AIM

To evaluate the association of Spanish compared to English primary household language on preterm (PT) infants' language outcomes in the United States and to examine associations with socio-economic factors.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort of PT infants born <32 weeks gestation from Spanish-speaking (n = 95) and English-speaking homes (n = 1030) born 2005-2019. Language (primary outcome) and cognitive and motor skills (secondary outcomes) were measured using the BSID-III at 18-24 months corrected age. Group differences were evaluated using bivariate comparisons and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Mothers reporting Spanish-speaking homes had higher rates of public insurance and lower educational achievement. Group newborn characteristics were similar. Preterm infants from Spanish-speaking homes had significantly lower BSID-III language composite, cognitive composite, receptive and expressive scores compared to infants from English-speaking homes. Logistic regression modelling identified independent negative effects of Spanish-speaking household OR 3.26 (CI 1.89-5.62) and public insurance OR 2.31 (CI 1.71-3.12) with a protective benefit derived from breast milk OR 0.68 (CI 0.50-0.92) when adjusting for medical morbidities, socio-economic factors and gestational age.

CONCLUSION

Public health policies and interventions in the United States should target language and cognitive outcomes of PT infants from Spanish-speaking homes.