Clinical utilisation of the Infant Monitor of vocal Production (IMP) for early identification of communication impairment in young infants at-risk of cerebral palsy: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Aim: To report prospective longitudinal data of early vocaliszations of infants identified “at-risk” of cerebral palsy (CP) for early identification of communication impairment.

Method: This case-control longitudinal prospective cohort study reports on the assessment of 36 infants, 18 identified as at-risk of CP at the time of enrolment and 18 typically developing (TD) children, at three time points: 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age, Data were obtained through criterion and norm referenced assessments of vocaliszation behaviors.

Results: Early vocal behaviors of infants identified as at-risk of CP did not differ from their age matched peers at 6 months of age, however, significant group differences emerged at 9 and 12 months when precanonical and canonical babble typically emerge. Generalized linear mixed models analysis showed that the rate of development of early language ability and more complex speech-related vocal behaviors was slower for infants at risk of CP when compared to TD infants, with over 75% of infants with CP showing below normal vocal production and impaired language by 12 months of age.

Interpretation: Our data suggest characteristics of infant vocalizations associated with pre-canonical and canonical babbling provide a strong evidence base for predicting communication outcomes in infants at risk of CP.

Keywords

cerebral palsy, infant vocalizations, Infant Monitor of vocal Production, early identification, communication impairment

Link to Publisher Version (URL)

10.1080/17518423.2021.1942280

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