The EAP Young Investigator Award 2024

Sunday morning marked the highly anticipated EAP Young Investigator Award session, featuring outstanding presentations from promising researchers in the field of paediatrics. The judges faced a difficult task, given the exceptional quality of each presentation. View their details below!

Exploring Language Development in Preterm Infants

Nadine’s research focuses on identifying the key predictors and risk factors influencing language development in preterm infants, a particularly vulnerable group. The study tracked 476 neonates born before 32 weeks of gestation between 2012 and 2020 at the Medical University of Vienna. Through Bayley-III assessments conducted at 12, 24, and 36 months, Nadine’s team developed a comprehensive view of each child’s language progress.

Key Findings and Insights

The study revealed that several medical and socio-demographic factors—including multilingualism, reduced birth weight, lower maternal education, and shorter gestational age—play a significant role in predicting poorer language outcomes by 36 months. Severe complications such as intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), NEC, and ROP surgery further increased the risk of delayed language development.

Importantly, the 24-month language assessment emerged as a stronger predictor of later abilities than the 12-month evaluation, underscoring the importance of ongoing, longitudinal follow-ups to monitor developmental progress effectively.

Impact on Paediatric Care

Nadine’s findings equip healthcare providers with valuable tools to identify high-risk infants early on, ensuring they receive targeted interventions to support their language development. Her research underscores the need for continued follow-up assessments to monitor progress and inform care strategies throughout early childhood.

See You in Warsaw

16-19  October 2025

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