Early identification and intervention of weak language skills of very preterm children in the context of cognitive and social factors

This multi-professional, longitudinal research project aims to enhance understanding of the emergence of language ability among very preterm (VP) children (born at <32 weeks of gestational age and/or with birth weight < 1500g) and the factors associated with it. Main focus is on early identification and early intervention of weak language (WL) development in this group. Language development of 140 VP children and their 100 full-term control children will be investigated in light of cognitive (e.g. emerging working memory ability) and social (e.g. parental well-being) factors. The project also includes a randomized controlled trial an early intervention of WL in VP children.