Embedding Universal Language Promotion in Pediatric Primary Care to Optimize Early Child Development and Reduce Long-Term Health Disparities.

Objective: To report on the feasibility and outcomes of universal language promotion intervention (Talk With Me Baby [TWMB]) embedded within routine well-child care for children from birth to 3-years old.

Methods: Across 2 primary care clinics, 29 health care team members participated in a 12-month trial to deliver TWMB within well-child care visits. Feasibility was based on clinician feedback during the trial, clinician knowledge assessments, and clinic data. Sixty-three parents and their infant/toddlers were enrolled to provide feedback on TWMB and to assess parent language promotion behaviors, specifically, parents' self-reported use of their language-building interactions during daily activities with their child.

Results: Clinician feedback and clinic data support TWMB as an acceptable and feasible intervention that can be used successfully within standard of care well-child visits by health care teams. Initial outcome data show positive changes for increasing parent-child language promoting interactions during daily activities.

Conclusion: Results support the promise of leveraging primary care as a low-cost, scalable way to deliver universal language promotion intervention to optimize the developmental potential of all young children.