{"title":"Characteristics of Speech Sound Development in Preterm-Born Children: A Scoping Review","authors":"Sam Burr, Sam Harding, Sarah Rudd","doi":"10.1111/1460-6984.70347","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>There is substantial evidence for the detrimental impact of preterm birth on language development compared to children born at term. However, little is known regarding speech sound development of preterm infants. Speech development precedes language development and requires investigation in its own right. A clear picture of the evidence for speech sound development in preterm-born children is important to enable clinical services in early identification and intervention for these children.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Aim</h3>\n \n <p>To understand the extent and type of evidence relating to typical and atypical speech sound development in children born before 37 weeks gestation (preterm).</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>A search of 5 MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, EMBASE, EMCARE was undertaken in April 2026. Grey literature searching in Campbell collaboration, COSMIN, PROSPERO, FigShare and Open Science Framework, Google (advanced search), and SpeechBite was undertaken. Articles including samples of children reporting speech sound development (typical or atypical) were included in the review. Studies focusing on outcomes for reading and literacy were excluded, as were animal studies and those signed languages. Population demographics, assessment and outcome measures, methods of analysis and findings were extracted from each study.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Main contribution</h3>\n \n <p>28 studies from 14 different countries were included in the review. Twenty-five of the 28 studies reported differences in speech outcomes of PT children and FT children between the ages of 3 months and 12 years.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>This review found differences in how PT and FT children develop sounds for speech from birth through into childhood. Further large-scale, longitudinal research is needed to clarify what typical and atypical speech development look like in PT children.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS</h3>\n \n <div><i>What is already known on this subject</i>\n \n <ul>\n \n <li>The findings of this scoping review provide evidence of the differences between speech sound development between preterm born children and children born at term in the first 12 years of life. This information could contribute to a more informed approach to care and early intervention.</li>\n </ul><i>What this study adds to the existing knowledge?</i>\n \n <ul>\n \n <li>Understanding the impact of preterm birth on early speech sound development can help speech and language therapists to build a picture of a child's individual risk profile for speech sound disorder later in childhood. This can lead to earlier intervention for the children who need it most.</li>\n </ul>\n </div>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":49182,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders","volume":"61 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1460-6984.70347","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1460-6984.70347","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
There is substantial evidence for the detrimental impact of preterm birth on language development compared to children born at term. However, little is known regarding speech sound development of preterm infants. Speech development precedes language development and requires investigation in its own right. A clear picture of the evidence for speech sound development in preterm-born children is important to enable clinical services in early identification and intervention for these children.
Aim
To understand the extent and type of evidence relating to typical and atypical speech sound development in children born before 37 weeks gestation (preterm).
Methods
A search of 5 MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, EMBASE, EMCARE was undertaken in April 2026. Grey literature searching in Campbell collaboration, COSMIN, PROSPERO, FigShare and Open Science Framework, Google (advanced search), and SpeechBite was undertaken. Articles including samples of children reporting speech sound development (typical or atypical) were included in the review. Studies focusing on outcomes for reading and literacy were excluded, as were animal studies and those signed languages. Population demographics, assessment and outcome measures, methods of analysis and findings were extracted from each study.
Main contribution
28 studies from 14 different countries were included in the review. Twenty-five of the 28 studies reported differences in speech outcomes of PT children and FT children between the ages of 3 months and 12 years.
Conclusions
This review found differences in how PT and FT children develop sounds for speech from birth through into childhood. Further large-scale, longitudinal research is needed to clarify what typical and atypical speech development look like in PT children.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
What is already known on this subject
The findings of this scoping review provide evidence of the differences between speech sound development between preterm born children and children born at term in the first 12 years of life. This information could contribute to a more informed approach to care and early intervention.
What this study adds to the existing knowledge?
Understanding the impact of preterm birth on early speech sound development can help speech and language therapists to build a picture of a child's individual risk profile for speech sound disorder later in childhood. This can lead to earlier intervention for the children who need it most.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (IJLCD) is the official journal of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. The Journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of speech, language, communication disorders and speech and language therapy. It provides a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of issues of clinical or theoretical relevance in the above areas.