What factors interfere with the performance of preschool children in the language subtest of Bayley-III?

The Bayley-III was standardized in English and not fully validated for Brazilian Portuguese, which may affect the accuracy of scores due to linguistic and cultural differences. Most children in both groups scored below average, suggesting the sample may have had widespread language vulnerabilities or that the test was culturally inappropriate for this population. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if maternal education causes language delays or if other unmeasured environmental factors are responsible. Socioeconomic status was measured using Critério Brasil, which focuses on consumer goods and access to services rather than income or home learning environment, potentially missing key predictors of language development. The sample size was small and drawn from a single university hospital setting, limiting generalizability.

The study was financed in part by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil), a Brazilian government agency. No commercial conflicts of interest were reported.

Do not assume that a low Bayley-III language score in a Brazilian preschooler indicates a disorder caused by prematurity. This study found no difference between preterm and term children, and maternal education was the only significant predictor. Low scores may reflect the test's lack of cultural adaptation or environmental factors rather than intrinsic neurological impairment.