Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Medical Studies for Children, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
2
Pediatric Consultant, Manager of Training and Clinical Research Administration at Giza Health Affairs Directorate, MOHP, Egypt.
3
Researcher at Clinical Genetics Department, Institute of Human Genetics and Genome Research, National Research Centre, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Bronchial asthma is the most common cause of chronic illness in childhood, reflecting on children's psychosocial behavior, cognition, and school performance. The asthmatic children have severe difficulties with concentration, behavior, and emotions. The genetic predisposition element of delayed language development (DLD) is highly suggested to be one of the important independent factors for asthmatic children to have DLD. Aims: The current work aimed to determine the independent factors that develop DLD in children. 366 asthmatic children were enrolled in this study; their ages ranged from 2-5 years. Modified preschool language scale- four (Arabic edition) was applied to evaluate language age and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale 5th edition (SB-5th) was used to assess Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.). The X-ray and hematological examination were done. Outcomes and Results: Sixty-six asthmatic children had DLD (18%). X-ray findings, medical treatments, Hemoglobin level, and oxygen saturation showed non-significant differences between the DLD children and the typically developed children’s groups. The family history (for both Bronchial asthma and DLD), TLC, PLT, full-scale I.Q., and recurrent attacks of otitis media showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion and implication: The asthmatic children had different independent factors considered as risk factors for delayed language development such as family history (for both bronchial asthma and delayed language development), recurrent otitis media, as well as TLC, PLT, full-scale I.Q, and sleep disturbances. This necessitates the evaluation of the language age in those children to accelerate their management.
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