Developmental Intervention for Infants of Adolescent Mothers

Mother-infant pairs are enrolled while in the hospital after birth. Enrolled participants are randomized into a language (intervention) or motor (control) group. All participants have a baseline LENA (device that captures 16 hour recording and associated computer analysis generates a report of numbers of adult words spoken, infant vocalization and conversational turns). Interventions after the baseline recording by group are as follows:

Intervention:

• Review language curriculum and motor curriculum with study personnel
• Direct linguistic feedback of baseline LENA recording
• 2nd LENA recording completed and analyzed
• Direct or mailed linguistic feedback of 2nd LENA recording
• 16- Weekly text messages
• 4 month LENA recording with mailed linguistic feedback
• 12 month LENA recording with mailed linguistic feedback

Control:

• Review motor curriculum with study personnel
• 2nd LENA recording completed and analyzed
• 4- monthly text messages
• 4 month LENA recording
• 12 month LENA recording with mailed linguistic feedback of all recordings

Both groups undergo the following assessments:

• Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 4 and 12 months
• Maternal Peabody Picture Vocabulary test at 4 months
• Edinburgh Post-partum Depression Scale at 4 months
• MacArthur Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory: Words and Gestures at 12

Inclusion criteria

• Infants ≥30 weeks born to 15-20 year old mothers

Exclusion criteria

• Congenital anomalies associated with adverse developmental outcomes
• Non-English speaking mothers
• No cell phone
• Mother not available for follow-up
• State custody of mother or infant.