Language disorders in nonretarded high birthweight infants

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of language disorders in nonretarded children who had a history of high birthweight, in an effort to determine whether or not increased birthweight produced a greater risk for language disorders. The subjects selected for investigation were initially evaluated at The University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences Child Development Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Twenty-six subjects whose birthweight was in excess of 4000 grams (8 pounds 13 ounces) were selected for investigation. A control group of twenty-six standard birthweight subjects (i.e., birthweight between 2500 and 4000 grams) was matched with the high birthweight group on the variables of sex, race, and chronological age. The subjects, between the ages of two years and eight years, were determined by psychological testing to be nonretarded. Additional criteria stipulated that the subjects have no history of pre-, peri-, or postnatal injury or illness which would inhibit normal language development. The following information was then obtained from Child Development Center clinical records for statistical comparison between the two groups: (1) estimated level of intellectual functioning within the nonretarded range; (2) pre-, peri-, and postnatal factors; (3) clinical diagnosis of language disorder; (4) behavior disorders (i.e., hyperactivity, distractibility); and (5) motor incoordination (i.e., fine motor, gross motor).

The results of the study indicated no significant association between the incidence of language disorders and high birthweight, as compared to the incidence of language disorders and standard birthweight in nonretarded children. Statistical analyses of other factors such as maternal age at conception, maternal parity, estimated level of intellectual functioning within the nonretarded range, motor incoordination, and behavior disorders also revealed no significant association with regard to the two birthweight groups.