Latent social communication cognition growth trajectories of term and preterm infants/toddlers based on caregiver report.

BACKGROUND

Analysis of developmental trajectories is crucial to understand how and when neurodevelopmental vulnerability contributes to social, communication, and cognitive impairments. We report on an online, longitudinal caregiver-report tool that characterizes the growth trajectories of social communication cognition (SCG) abilities in infants/toddlers born term or preterm.

METHODS

Longitudinal item response theory modeling was used to estimate item parameters of caregiver ratings on the SCG domain of PediaTrac in a sample of 571 neonates (331 term, 240 preterm) from the newborn period to 18 months. Moderating effects of sex was examined. It was hypothesized: 1) trajectories of the latent trait SCG could be estimated by gamma1 (slope) with alpha discrimination in the high range; and 2) term status differences in gamma1 could be demonstrated over 18 months.

RESULTS

The longitudinal SCG trajectory was estimated with high discrimination (α = 1.48). Preterm infants exhibited a slower rate of SCG growth (gamma1 p < 0.0001), detectable by 9 months of age (longitudinal theta p = 0.02). Females exhibited more rapid SCG growth.

CONCLUSION

The SCG items of PediaTrac are highly informative across the first 18 months. Growth trajectories in social communication cognition development may be an important indicator of neurodevelopmental risk and treatment effects.

IMPACT

This is the first caregiver report instrument that can characterize the longitudinal growth trajectory of social communication cognition development over infancy/toddlerhood. The longitudinal trajectory for the caregiver reported social communication cognition (SCG) domain of PediaTrac could reliably discriminate infants/toddlers at different levels of ability by term and preterm status. Significant term status differences in development could be detected by 9 months of age. Biological sex differences in social communication cognition development were detected by 12 months of age. Including caregivers in digital reporting and child-centered monitoring of social communication cognition development over time may improve access to care.