Work

How Well Do Communication Profiles at 2 Years of Age Predict Outcomes at 9–10 Years of Age in Children With Cerebral Palsy?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Early identification of diverging developmental trajectories is important to optimize communication interventions for children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this study was to examine if communication profiles at 2 years of age predicted speech, language, and communication outcomes at 9-10 years of age in children with CP. METHOD: = 4). Using generalized linear regression and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests, we examined if 2-year speech-language profiles predicted speech, language, and communication outcomes at 9-10 years of age. Outcomes at 9-10 years of age were obtained from classification systems, spontaneous language samples, elicited speech tasks, and parent report. RESULTS: Based on 2-year speech-language profiles, we found significant differences in speech, language, and communication outcomes at 9-10 years of age. Specifically, children who were not talking at 2 years of age had more restricted outcomes than children who were emerging or established talkers at 2 years of age. CONCLUSION: Our study's results provide preliminary evidence that early communication interventions can and should be differentiated based on communication abilities at 2 years of age to maximize later communication outcomes for children with CP.

Source: Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools

DOI: 10.1044/2025_lshss-24-00089

Authors: Marianne Elmquist, Katherine C. Hustad

Institution: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Language: English

Topic: Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development