关键词: 语言发育迟缓, 发育特征, 儿童

Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence of language delay among children aged 18 - 36 months in Urumqi and analyze the risk factors contributing to it, thereby providing a scientific basis for promoting early language development in children. Methods Children aged 18 to 36 months who underwent health check-ups at the Department of Child Health Care, Urumqi Children's Hospital, between January and June 2023 were selected as subjects. The outcome variables were assessed using the Neuro-Psychological Development Assessment Scale for Children Aged 0 - 6 Years and the Early Language Development Progress Scale. Risk factors influencing language developmental delay were obtained through questionnaires. Results A total of 703 children were included in the study, among whom 118 (16.8%) had language delay. Children in the language delay group lagged behind those in the normal language group in the domains of language, gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, and social skills (t=28.29, 5.23, 6.33, 7.74, 13.07, P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of gender, parental education level, parental relationship, maternal hypertension during pregnancy, maternal emotional status during pregnancy, feeding mode, daily screen exposure time of children, types of daily play activities, and types of games (χ²:4.202 - 40.063,P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that being male (OR=2.534, 95%CI: 1.571 - 4.089), maternal emotional distress during pregnancy (OR=1.779, 95%CI: 1.048 - 3.019), artificial feeding (OR=2.598, 95%CI: 1.457 - 4.636), daily screen exposure time >1h (OR=3.244, 95%CI: 1.966 - 5.354), solitary play (OR=2.168, 95%CI: 1.323 - 3.553), and playing mainly sensory motor games (OR=1.902, 95%CI: 1.157 - 3.126) were risk factors for language delay in children (P<0.05). Conclusions Children's language development is influenced by multiple factors such as gender, maternal emotional status during pregnancy, feeding mode, screen exposure time, gaming methods, and gaming content. Therefore, in areas with relatively backward conditions for children's health care in the western region, priority should be given to conducting health education on the above factors, guiding parents to adopt scientific parenting methods, and promoting early language development in children.

Key words: language development delay, developmental characteristics, children