Social isolation as a risk factor for language disorders in 4-year-old children

Introduction: social isolation is a potentially negative environmental factor affecting language development, a dynamic process involving neurobiological, psychosocial, and environmental interactions in children.

Objective: to determine whether social isolation is a risk factor for language disorders in 4-year-old children.

Materials and methods: a natural quasi-experimental design was conducted in 4-year-old children. The unexposed group: 4-year-old children evaluated in 2018; exposed group: 4-year-old children in 2025 who were exposed to social isolation for 3 years. The EDI test was administered in both groups. Sample size: 87 children before isolation and 62 children after isolation. Maternal age was analyzed, and language disorder was classified as normal or developmental delay using the EDI test; A multiple logistic regression model was performed.

Results: the regression equation of the model was y = -4,027 + 2,491(social isolation) + 0,100(maternal age) (p <0,001). When the mother's age is 29 years and there is no social isolation, the probability of language impairment in the 4-year-old child is 24,5%, and if social isolation is present, the probability of language impairment increases to 79,6%.

Conclusion: social isolation and maternal age are risk factors for language impairment in 4-year-old children.