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Child's Nervous System

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01-01-2019 | Original Paper

Infant/toddler motor skills as predictors of cognition and language in children with and without positional skull deformation

Authors: Brent R. Collett, Erin R. Wallace, Deborah Kartin, Matthew L. Speltz

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Purpose

To estimate associations between early motor abilities (at two age points, 7 and 18 months on average) and cognitive/language outcomes at age 3. To determine whether these associations are similar for children with and without positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB).

Methods

The Bayley Scales of Infant/Toddler Development 3 were given at all age points to 235 children with PPB and 167 without PPB. Linear regressions assessed longitudinal associations between fine and gross motor scales and cognition/language. Item analyses examined the contributions of specific motor skills.

Results

Associations between 7-month motor skills and cognition/language were modest overall (effect sizes [ES] = − 0.08 to 0.10, p = .13 to .95). At 18 months, both fine and gross motor skills were associated with outcomes for children with PPB (ES = 0.21 to 0.41, p < .001 to .01), but among those without PPB, only fine motor skills were associated with outcomes (ES = 0.21 to 0.27, p < .001 to .001).

Conclusions

Toddlers’ motor skills were associated with cognition and language at 3 years, particularly among children with PPB. Interventions targeting early motor development in infants and toddlers with PPB may have downstream benefits for other outcomes.

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Title: Infant/toddler motor skills as predictors of cognition and language in children with and without positional skull deformation
Authors: Brent R. Collett
Erin R. Wallace
Deborah Kartin
Matthew L. Speltz
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Child's Nervous System / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3986-4

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Infant/toddler motor skills as predictors of cognition and language in children with and without positional skull deformation

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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