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Clinical Takeaway
: In a sample of 3-year-old Japanese children, the Covid-19 pandemic was associated with increased risk of language difficulties, particularly in those not attending preschool.Context
Worldwide lockdowns and social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted social interactions among people of all ages. To assess the effects on child language development, researchers used the mandated group health checkups for 3- and 4-year-olds in Japan to conduct a cross-sectional study comparing language development problems (language difficulties and missed milestones) of almost 20,000 children evaluated prepandemic (approximately 2017–2019) with just over 21,000 evaluated during the pandemic (approximately 2020–2023).
Key Points
Risk of physician-identified language difficulties increased significantly during the pandemic (adjusted relative risk, 1.5; absolute risk, 3.4% vs. 2.4% prepandemic). The highest aRR, 1.9, occurr…