Table 1.
Biological, medical and socio-demographic characteristics of the low-risk preterm and full-term late talkers and their parents and results of group comparisons.
| Low-Risk Preterm Late Talkers (n = 26) |
Full-Term Late Talkers (n = 35) |
χ2/t | df | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children’s Characteristics | |||||
| GA (weeks), Mean (SD) | 33.90 (2.02) | 39.37 (1.28) | 12.95 | 59 | <0.001 |
| BW (grams), Mean (SD) | 1991.58 (457.57) | 3249.00 (530.02) | 0.66 | 59 | <0.001 |
| Length of Stay in Hospital (days), Mean (SD) | 21.61 (35.80) | 2.63 (1.52) | −2.70 | 59 | 0.003 |
| Gender (Female), n (%) | 8 (30.80) | 12 (34.30) | 0.08 | 1, 61 | 0.772 |
| Firstborn, n (%) | 14 (53.80) | 16 (45.70) | 2.69 | 1, 61 | 0.238 |
| Twins, n (%) | 15 (57.70) | 0 (0) | 26.78 | 1, 61 | <0.001 |
| Otitis Media, n (%) | 1 (3.80) | 2 (5.70) | 0.11 | 1, 61 | 0.739 |
| Family History of Language and/or Learning Disorders (LLD), n (%) | 5 (19.20) | 6 (17.10) | 0.04 | 1, 61 | 0.834 |
| Nursery School Attendance, n (%) | 17 (65.40) | 27 (77.10) | 1.03 | 1, 61 | 0.311 |
| Other Parent Input Besides Italian, n (%) | 4 (15.40) | 4 (11.40) | 0.17 | 1, 60 | 0.683 |
| Caesarean Section, n (%) | 24 (92.30) | 8 (22.90) | 28.85 | 1, 61 | <0.001 |
| SGA, n (%) | 5 (19.20) | 1 (2.90) | 4.51 | 1, 61 | 0.034 |
| IVH I/II, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | - | - | |
| MV, n (%) | 2 (7.70) | 0 (0) | 2.78 | 1, 61 | 0.095 |
| RDS, n (%) | 14 (53.80) | 0 (0) | 24.46 | 1, 61 | <0.001 |
| Apnea, n (%) | 1 (3.80) | 0 (0) | 1.379 | 1, 61 | 0.242 |
| BDP, n (%) | 1 (3.80) | 0 (0) | 1.37 | 1, 61 | 0.242 |
| Sepsis, n (%) | 1 (3.80) | 0 (0) | 1.37 | 1, 61 | 0.242 |
| ROP I/II, n (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | - | - | |
| Hyperbilirubinemia with Phototherapy, n (%) | 17 (65.40) | 3 (8.60) | 21.85 | 1, 61 | <0.001 |
| Parents’ Characteristics | |||||
| Mother’s Age (years), Mean (SD) | 40.38 (5.26) | 37.26 (5.33) | −2.26 | 58 | 0.028 |
| Father’s Age (years), Mean (SD) | 42.63 (5.49) | 39.41 (5.72) | −2.07 | 51 | 0.043 |
| Mothers with High Educational Level (>13 years), n (%) |
14 (53.80) | 25 (71.40) | 2.00 | 1, 61 | 0.157 |
| Fathers with High Educational Level (>13 years), n (%) |
7 (26.90) | 18 (51.40) | 3.70 | 1, 61 | 0.054 |
| Mother’s Nationality (Italian), n (%) | 23 (88.50) | 32 (91.40) | 0.15 | 1, 61 | 0.700 |
| Father’s Nationality (Italian), n (%) | 23 (88.50) | 32 (91.40) | 0.15 | 1, 61 | 0.700 |
GA: gestational age; BW: birthweight; SGA: small for gestational age, infants with a birthweight < 10th percentile for gestational age; IVH I/II: intra-ventricular hemorrhage originating within the subependymal germinal matrix filling less than 10% (I grade) and 50% (II grade), respectively, of the ventricular area on parasagittal view; MV: mechanical ventilation; RDS: respiratory distress syndrome, acute illness coming on within 4–6 h of delivery, characterized clinically by respiratory rate ≥ 60/min, dyspnea and respiratory distress; Apnea: significant apnea was defined as more than four episodes of apnea/hour or more than two episodes of apnea/hour if ventilation with a bag and mask was required; BPD: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, needing both supplemental oxygen for ≥ 28 days and at 36 weeks of post-conception age; sepsis: presence of a positive blood culture and/or clinical and laboratory signs; ROP I/II: retinopathy of prematurity, vasoproliferative retinopathy resolved without a specific therapy before the presumed date of birth; Hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy: hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy according to the criteria proposed by Gomella [45]. Missing data were present for the following variables: Other Parent Input Besides Italian, n = 1; Mother’s Age, n = 1; Father’s, n = 8. Significant results are highlighted in bold.