Prematurity and Language Developmental Risk: Too Young or Too Small?

Studies of the language developmental outcomes of prematurity over the last 30 years have reported contradictory results. Methodological differences that may account for some of these inconsistencies are reviewed. Frequently occurring perinatal risk factors are discussed and two areas of research warranting further attention -small-for-gestational-age infants and language and language-related skills in older children - are highlighted. Currently, being born too young, too small, or both represent risk factors for language development that increase in that order and are sufficient to warrant language monitoring.