Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with comorbid intellectual disability in children aged 2-6 years with language development delay and to evaluate the short-term effects of multidimensional early neurobehavioral intervention. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 230 children with language development delay treated from March 2021 to April 2024. Based on intelligence testing, 41 had comorbid intellectual disability and 189 did not. Data collected included demographics, birth history, pregnancy complications, family history, feeding mode, hearing status, and parental education. Assessments comprised the Sign-Significant (S-S) language test, Gesell Developmental Scale, Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS), conducted before and after 3 months of intervention. RESULTS: Lower S-S scores, prematurity, family history of intellectual disability, and high-risk birth were independent predictors, while high-risk pregnancy was not. The S-S score yielded the best discrimination (area under curve 0.796). After intervention, language, cognition, and adaptive behavior improved significantly in both groups (all P < 0.001), with effect sizes in the large range. Improvements were consistent across subgroups without significant differences (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Multidimensional early neurobehavioral intervention was associated with significant improvements in language, cognition, and adaptive behavior, supporting its potential use for early rehabilitation.