{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T01:48:14Z","timestamp":1782352094608,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782259200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: Language delay (LD) is a common developmental condition in which children fail to achieve age-appropriate language milestones, affecting communication, cognition, and social integration. It affects approximately 1 in 14 preschool children and may have long-term consequences into adulthood. The period from 12 to 36 months is a critical window for language development, during which children begin to comprehend and produce their first words. Early identification of risk factors during this stage is essential for timely intervention. However, in Vietnam, data on factors associated with language delay in this age group remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors associated with language delay in children aged 12\u201336 months. Methods: A case\u2013control study was conducted, including 55 children with language delay and 55 typically developing children aged 12\u201336 months. Personal, familial, medical, and environmental data were collected using structured questionnaires. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with language delay. Results: A total of 110 children (43 boys and 67 girls) were included. The strongest risk factor was the use of screens to calm or occupy children (OR = 36.6; p &lt; 0.001). Early bilingual exposure was a significant protective factor (OR = 0.12; p = 0.014), while shared reading or picture viewing showed a strong but borderline protective effect (OR = 0.23; p = 0.051). Conclusions: The use of screens to calm or occupy children was the main risk factor for language delay, whereas early bilingual exposure and shared reading or picture viewing were protective factors. These findings highlight the importance of limiting non-interactive screen use and promoting interactive language activities to support early language development.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life16071050","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T01:03:56Z","timestamp":1782349436000},"page":"1050","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Factors Associated with Language Delay in 12-Month-to-3-Year-Old Children\u2014A Real-World Vietnam Case\u2013Control Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5255-4505","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thanh-Nhan","family":"Doan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation, Vinmec Da Nang, Vinmec International Hospital, Da Nang 11622, Vietnam"},{"name":"College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam"},{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, Mekong University, Vinh Long 85000, Vietnam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1753-4433","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bao Thy","family":"Vuong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, Mekong University, Vinh Long 85000, Vietnam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thi-Linh-Giang","family":"Phan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation, Quang Nam Northern Mountainous Region General Hospital, Da Nang 560000, Vietnam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3540-6225","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Li-Wei","family":"Chou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404332, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Asia University Hospital, Asia University, Taichung 413505, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1044\/lle15.3.93","article-title":"Early Language Delay and Risk for Language Impairment","volume":"15","year":"2008","journal-title":"Perspect. 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Q."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.14238\/pi61.3.2021.133-40","article-title":"External risk factors associated with language disorders in children","volume":"61","author":"Wangke","year":"2021","journal-title":"Paediatr. Indones."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"De Houwer, A. (2021). Bilingual Development in Childhood, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/9781108866002"}],"container-title":["Life"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-1729\/16\/7\/1050\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T01:42:42Z","timestamp":1782351762000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-1729\/16\/7\/1050"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]},"references-count":19,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["life16071050"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/life16071050","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-1729"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-1729","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]]}}}