Risk assessment of delayed speech development of children born with very low and extremely low body weight

Aim. To establish the clinical and genetic determinants of the formation of delayed speech development in infants with very low and extremely low birth weight and to develop a prediction algorithm for this condition. Materials and methods. A cohort prospective study was conducted, which included 155 infant with very low and extremely low birth weight. Their speech development in 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months of life was studied and determinants determined. Results. It was found that 30.9% of children at the adjusted age of 24 months and almost 25% of children born with low and extremely low body weight at the age of 36 months have delayed speech. Important factors that promote delayed speech turned out to be severe intraventricular hemorrhages, postponed anemia in the first year of life, physical development and socio-economic status of the family. Forcasting model for delayed speech in early age for children born with low and extremely low body weight is devised. Conclusion: proposed model has high specificity (84.88%) and restrained sensitivity (55.88%) that testifies about ability to use it in practical medicine.