What is one perinatal factor associated with increased risk for language impairment?

Low birth weight is recognized as a significant perinatal factor associated with an increased risk for language impairment. This is primarily because low birth weight can be indicative of various prenatal issues, such as insufficient oxygen supply, inadequate nutrition, or complications during pregnancy. Infants with low birth weight often face developmental challenges, including delays in language acquisition and communication skills. These challenges may stem from both biological factors and environmental influences, such as the potential need for neonatal intensive care, which can limit early social interactions that are crucial for language development. Overall, low birth weight has been linked to a spectrum of cognitive and language disorders, thus making it a critical factor for evaluation in children showing signs of language impairment.