Not everyone develops comparable language skills. The first 1,001 days from conception onwards prove critical for language skills and brain development alike. Unknown is whether these two developmental processes are related. The YOUth cohort study follows >2,000 children’s brain development starting in pregnancy. This project assesses their full language profiles when the same children are 3-6 years old. Next, researchers link language skills to children’s prenatal brain development and the emergence of social brain networks in infancy. Researchers also take into account child- and parental characteristics. This will improve interventions for children in need of speech and language therapy.

• Melis Çetinçelik
• dr. Caroline Junge

• Marlijne Boumeester; Martin Teunisse