Clinical utilisation of the Infant Monitor of vocal Production (IMP) for early identification of communication impairment in young infants at-risk of cerebral palsy: a prospective cohort study

R Ward, N Hennessey, E Barty, C Elliott, J Valentine & R Cantle Moore

ABSTRACT

Aim: To report prospective longitudinal data of early vocalisations of infants identified “at-risk” of cerebral palsy (CP) for early identification of communication impairment.

Method: This case-control longitudinal prospective cohort study reports on the assessment of 36 infants, 18 identified as at-risk of CP at the time of enrolment and 18 typically developing (TD) children, at three time points: 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age, Data were obtained through criterion and norm referenced assessments of vocalisation behaviours.

Results: Early vocal behaviours of infants identified as at-risk of CP did not differ from their age matched peers at 6 months of age, however, significant group differences emerged at 9 and 12 months when pre-canonical and canonical babble typically emerge. Generalised linear mixed models analysis showed that the rate of development of early language ability and more complex speech-related vocal behaviours was slower for infants at risk of CP when compared to TD infants, with over 75% of infants with CP showing below normal vocal production and impaired language by 12 months of age.

Interpretation: Our data suggest characteristics of infant vocalisations associated with pre-canonical and canonical babbling provide a strong evidence base for predicting communication outcomes in infants at risk of CP.

https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2021.1942280