Variations in speech development are likely to be the result of underlying abnormalities in the brain associated with functional organization outcomes. Language development during normal development is extensive and bilateral in the infant's brain. It becomes more lateralized in the left hemisphere in time. 
According to the recent research, preterm (PT) children showed atypical bilateral language organization in the frontal-temporal regions, whereas at 11-12 years of age they revealed left-sided language organization resembling that of the full-term group. These results show a delayed and atypical neural specialization for language systems in PT born compared to full-term-born children 

Atypical Functional Brain Organization

Approximately 50-70% of very preterm (VPT) born infants are affected by diffuse white matter abnormalities such as loss of white matter volume, corpus callosum thinning, and delayed myelination. A recent study showed that the mean score on language tests at the age of 4 and 6 years significantly declined as the severity of white matter abnormalities increased. This is mainly because corpus callosum plays a crucial role in exchange of interhemispheric information, thus a deviation impacts the cognitive performance 

Structural Abnormalities 

a) Atypical Functional Brain Organization 
b) Structural Abnormalities 

According to recent studies, cerebral abnormalities associated with preterm birth might be a determinant of cognitive and linguistic development. Neuroimaging studies can help us identify predictors of development disorders so we can expand our knowledge about this topic.

Saint Olaf College

1) Neuroanatomical Factors 
     a) Atypical Functional Brain Organization 
     b) Structural Abnormalities 
2) Postnatal Environmental Factors 
     a) Effect of Exposure to Auditory Stimuli in Intensive Care Units 
     b) Dysfunctional Caregiver-Infant Relationship  

Causes of Differences in Preterm Born Children's Language Development 

Vandormael, C., Schoenhals, L., Hüppi, P. S., Filippa, M., & Borradori Tolsa, C. (2019). Language in Preterm Born Children: Atypical Development and Effects of Early Interventions on Neuroplasticity. Neural plasticity, 2019, 6873270. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6873270


Language in Preterm Born Children: Atypical Development and Effects of Early Interventions on Neuroplasticity (2019)

a) Effect of Exposure to Auditory Stimuli in Intensive Care Units
b) Dysfunctional Caregiver-Infant Relationship

Considering brain development is mostly shaped by early sensory experiences, exposure to language in the infant’s environment is of utmost importance. Since PT-born infants are exposed earlier to the environment outside of the uterus, one can wonder what the impact of the exposure to the auditory environment has on the developing brain.

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