Table 1 Characteristics of the child participants in the intervention and control groups

Mean (SD) [range] child’s age (months)

n = 9

20.6 (9.2)

[8, 32]

n = 10

20.1 (9.2)

[11, 36]

n = 19

20.3 (9.0)

[8, 36]

n (%) child’s gender (female)

5 (56%)

1 (10%)

6 (32%)

n (%) > 3-week premature

3 (33%)

3 (30%)

6 (32%)

n (%) concerns about vision

1 (11%)

4 (40%)

5 (26%)

n (%) diagnosed mental, physical or emotional disability

8 (89%)

8 (80%)

16 (84%)

n (%) concerns about hearing

4 (44%)

8 (80%)

12 (63%)

n (%) history of ear infections

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

n (%) hearing test

9 (100%)

10 (100%)

19 (100%)

Mean (SD) [range] hours in childcare per week

n = 9

12 (10.8)

[0, 27]

n = 10

14.1 (16.8)

[0, 50]

n = 19

13.1 (13.9)

[0, 50]

n (%) type of childcare

• Family member

2 (22%)

3 (30%)

5 (26%)

• Child minder

3 (33%)

0 (0%)

3 (16%)

• Nursery

2 (22%)

4 (40%)

6 (32%)

• Nanny/Au pair

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

• Other

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

• N/A

2 (22%)

3 (30%)

5 (26%)

n (%) receive portage

3 (33%)

6 (60%)

9 (47%)

n (%) receiving support from speech and language services

7 (78%)

10 (100%)

17 (89%)

Mean standard score (SD) [range], Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale

• Communication subdomain

n = 9

39.8 (11.8)

[24, 57]

n = 10

25.3 (11.3)

[7, 39]

n = 19

32.2 (13.5)

[7, 57]

• Daily living skills subdomain

n = 9

17.2 (8.7)

[12, 38]

n = 10

9.0 (2.8)

[5, 14]

n = 19

12.9 (7.4)

[5, 38]

• Socialisation subdomain

n = 9

42.7 (6.8)

[32, 55]

n = 10

33.1 (10.0)

[13, 43]

n = 19

37.6 (9.7)

[13, 55]

• Overall score

n = 9

99.7 (21.7)

[68, 137]

n = 10

67.4 (21.4)

[29, 92]

n = 19

82.7 (26.7)

[29, 137]