Which factor is linked to a higher risk of language impairment in children?

Maternal health during pregnancy is closely linked to the development of language skills in children. Poor maternal health can significantly impact fetal development, leading to complications that can affect the brain and nervous system. For instance, maternal factors such as malnutrition, infections, substance abuse, and exposure to environmental toxins can disrupt normal development, potentially resulting in language impairments. The prenatal environment plays a crucial role in establishing a healthy foundation for cognitive and linguistic skills that will be developed after birth.

In contrast, high parental education levels tend to correlate with enhanced language development opportunities for children, such as richer language input and stimulating environments. Increased birth weight, while often associated with better health outcomes, does not directly link to language impairment but rather to overall wellbeing. Low levels of exposure to technology are more complex, as they might not directly result in language impairment; rather, appropriate engagement with technology could foster language development. Thus, the maternal health factor stands out as a direct influence on the potential for language impairments in children.