Specific Language Impairment

The broad aim of this clinical study is to assess the hypothesis that morphological and phonological deficits are linked by a broader deficit in sequential pattern learning. This hypothesis applies to learning in general, but is especially critical as an avenue for developing earlier assessments and more powerful interventions for children with developmental language disorder (DLD; also known as specific language impairment). Other populations, such as at-risk toddlers, may also benefit from this new approach.

The goal of this ambispective cohort study is to reveal the early indicators of delayed language development in children born with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We will examine the prognostic accuracy of different biomarkers, with a special focus on the ADC values of the corpus callosum. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. To what extent does hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in infancy affect intellectual development (IQ), receptive and expressive language abilities at different levels of the language system, and memory capacities related to language development? 2. What is the relationship between early biomarkers of brain injury-such as blood gas levels, lactate, aEEG, and MRI findings (Weeke scoring system, ADC values of the corpus callosum)-and long-term cognitive developmental outcomes? 3. What is the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in this high-risk population of infants with HIE? 4. Is there an association between the Weeke Total Score and long-term language developmental outcomes? 5. Can restricted diffusion (ADC values) of the splenium of the corpus callosum serve as an early neuroradiological marker of developmental language disorder (DLD)? Our participants are children born between 2017 and 2023 with moderate to severe HIE, treated with therapeutic hypothermia at Semmelwies University Children's Hospital. During their first days of life, several neonatal measurements were taken (blood gas markers, aEEG etc.), and at day 4-5, they had an MRI scan of their brain. The MRI scans will be reanalyzed, using the Weeke MRI scoring system. These children underwent a neurodevelopmental follow-up at the age of 2 years and currently, they will have another follow-up at the age of 4-7 years.