Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: Our previous investigation showed that infants with cleft lip who had undergone late (three-month) surgical repair (but not those with early, neonatal, repair) had significantly poorer cognitive development at 18 months than a group of unaffected control children. These differences were mediated by the quality of early mother-infant interactions. The present study examined whether this pattern persisted into later childhood. METHOD: At 7 years, 93 index (44 early, and 49 late repair) and 77 control children were followed up and their cognitive development assessed (IQ, language and school achievements). RESULTS: Index children (particularly those with late lip repair) scored significantly lower than controls on tests of cognitive development. Group differences in Verbal IQ were mediated by 2 months' maternal sensitivity; this was associated with 7-year Verbal IQ, even after controlling for later mother-child interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Social interactions in the first few months may be of especial importance for child cognitive development. Interventions for infants with cleft lip should be directed at fostering the best possible parental care in infancy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02375.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Child Psychol Psychiatry

Publication Date

06/2011

Volume

52

Pages

704 - 712

Keywords

Achievement, Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Intelligence, Learning Disorders, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mother-Child Relations, Object Attachment