2102V - Understanding Risk and Resilience in Children Born Preterm: A Primer for Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologists

Preterm birth, classified as birth before 37 weeks gestational age, accounts for nearly one in ten live births in the United States annually (Osterman, 2022). Children born preterm are at increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including speech and language outcomes. Speech-language pathologists, especially those who work in the early intervention (EI) setting, are in need of effective professional education to adequately serve this vulnerable population. In this professional education session, the authors will provide an overview of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience, discuss common medical comorbidities experienced by preterm infants, provide current research regarding neurodevelopmental risk and protective factors for children born preterm, and discuss the importance of awareness and advocacy within the early intervention setting.