ERIC Number: EJ1461044
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1522-7227
EISSN: EISSN-1522-7219
Available Date: 2025-01-23
Brain Morphometry of Toddlers with Language Delay: An Exploratory Study
Courtney A. Filippi1,2; Elizabeth Smith3; Elizabeth Redcay4; Heather Hazlett5; Lauren Thompson6; Stacy S. Manwaring7; Precilla D'Souza8; Audrey Thurm8
Infant and Child Development, v34 n1 e2558 2025
While studies have documented neural correlates of language delay in toddlers with developmental conditions, those at genetic risk for language delay, and those born premature, no studies have examined neural correlates in toddlers exhibiting early language delay without known aetiology. This study examines brain morphometry in toddlers with and without early language delay. To do so, we collected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on toddlers with language delay (LD; n = 7, M[subscript age] = 19.67 months, 3 female, 2 Hispanic and 4 non-caucasian) and a typically developing (TD; n = 17, M[subscript age] = 22.73 months, 8 female, 2 Hispanic and 3 non-caucasian) comparison group. Exploratory analyses examined group differences in total brain volume, cortical thickness and cortical surface area using both a whole-brain and region of interest (Broca's and Wernicke's areas) approach. Results showed no gross brain anatomical differences between groups. However, there were group differences in cortical surface area in the temporal cortex (including Wernicke's area and left middle temporal gyrus, hedges' g = - 0.35) and Broca's area thickness. Results are reported using multiple analytic methods, age matching and exclusion of children later diagnosed with autism. While this exploratory study has a limited sample size, it provides novel findings that can be utilised to guide hypothesis-driven imaging studies on toddler language delay.
Descriptors: Toddlers, Delayed Speech, Brain, Child Development, Physical Characteristics, Minimal Brain Dysfunction
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: NCT01339767; 1ZICMH002961; R00MH125878
Data File: URL: https://nda.nih.gov/study.html?id=590
Author Affiliations: 1Emotion and Development Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; 2Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA; 3Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; 4Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA; 5Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; 6Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA; 7Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; 8Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA