所謂"智利一個地區"在讀原文資料時得知是Patagonian，即南美洲南部主要印第安人部落之一,智利和阿根廷最大的印第安部族。由於沒有閱讀全文無法得知研究人員的研究方法是否能讓此項結果具普遍性，也就是此一結果是否也能推論到經濟水平較好的家庭(能給孩子較多的語言刺激)，以及母語與社會語言一致的家庭(印第安人部落在家講得話應不是官方語言西班牙語吧?)。不知研究人員選擇Patagonian是否因為他們能採樣到的有言語障礙的人比較多的關係?

引用

兒童吸吮奶嘴時間過久或影響語言功能發育——中新網

兒童吸吮奶嘴時間過久或影響語言功能發育

2009年10月21日 10:13　來源：新華網　

　　英國《BMC兒科》雜誌20日公佈一項報告說，除正常的哺乳外，兒童吸吮橡皮奶嘴或手指等物體的時間過久，可能會對語言功能的發育造成不良影響。

　　報告說，美國和智利的研究人員收集了智利一個地區128名兒童的相關數據。這些兒童的年齡在3歲到5歲，其中一些兒童仍在吸吮橡皮奶嘴等物品。研究人員向他們的父母詢問了孩子出生後的哺乳、吸吮奶嘴或手指等情況，並請專門的醫生評估了這些兒童的語言能力。

　　結果發現，那些吸吮奶嘴或吸吮手指超過3年的兒童，語言能力出現障礙的可能性比普通孩子高出約3倍。研究還發現，如果在孩子9個月後才開始吸吮奶嘴等物品，可以降低以後語言功能出現障礙的風險。

　　研究人員指出，近年來讓孩子長期使用奶瓶和奶嘴等物品的情況日益普遍，而根據這項研究結果，家長們應該對此小心，不要讓孩子在正常的哺乳之外有過多的吸吮行為。(黃堃)

The relationship of bottle feeding and other sucking behaviors with speech disorder in Patagonian preschoolers

Clarita Barbosa , Sandra Vasquez , Mary A Parada , Juan Carlos Velez Gonzalez , Chanaye Jackson , N. David Yanez , Bizu Gelaye and Annette L. Fitzpatrick

BMC Pediatrics 2009, 9:66doi:10.1186/1471-2431-9-66

Published:	21 October 2009

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Previous studies have shown that children's nonnutritive sucking habits may lead to delayed development of their oral anatomy and functioning. However, these findings were inconsistent. We investigated associations between use of bottles, pacifiers, and other sucking behaviors with speech disorders in children attending three preschools in Punta Arenas (Patagonia), Chile.

Methods

Information on infant feeding and sucking behaviors, age starting and stopping breast- and bottle-feeding, pacifier use, and other sucking behaviors, was collected from self-administered questionnaires completed by parents. Evaluation of speech problems was conducted at preschools with subsequent scoring by a licensed speech pathologist using age-normative standards.

Results

A total of 128 three- to five-year olds were assessed, 46% girls and 54% boys. Children were breast fed for an average of 25.2 (SD 9.6) months and used a bottle 24.4 (SD 15.2) months. Fifty-three children (41.7%) had or currently used a pacifier for an average of 11.4 (SD 17.3) months; 23 children (18.3 %) were reported to have sucked their fingers. Delayed use of a bottle until after 9 months appeared to be protective for subsequent speech disorders. There was less than a one-third lower relative odds of subsequent speech disorders for children with a delayed use of a bottle compared to children without a delayed use of a bottle (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10-0.98). A three-fold increase in relative odds of speech disorder was found for finger-sucking behavior (OR: 2.99, 95% CI: 1.10-8.00) and for use of a pacifier for 3 or more years (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.08-10.81).

Conclusion

The results suggest extended use of sucking outside of breast-feeding may have detrimental effects on speech development in young children