Carol Scheffner Hammer|Paul L. Morgan|George Farkas|Marianne M. Hillemeier|Dana Bitetti|Steve Maczuga
Late Talkers: A Population-Based Study of Risk Factors and School Readiness Consequences
Columbia University|Pennsylvania State University|La Salle University|Pennsylvania State University|Temple University|Pennsylvania State University
purpose study designed identify sociodemographic pregnancy birth family health parenting child care risk factors late talker 24 months age b determine whether late talkers continue low vocabulary 48 months c investigate whether late talker plays unique role childrens school readiness 60 months method analyzed data early childhood longitudinal study populationbased sample 9600 children data gathered children 9 24 48 60 months old results risk late talker 24 months significantly associated boy lower socioeconomic status nonsingleton older maternal age birth moderately low birth weight lower quality parenting receipt day care less 10 hrweek attention problems late talker increased childrens risk low vocabulary 48 months low school readiness 60 months family socioeconomic status largest profound effect childrens school readiness conclusions limited vocabulary knowledge 24 48 months uniquely predictive later school readiness young children low vocabularies require additional supports prior school entry