RESULTS : Preterm-born children scored significantly lower compared with term-born children on simple ( d = –0.45 [ 95 % CI : –0.59 to –0.30 ] ; P < .001 ) and on complex ( d = –0.62 [ 95 % CI : –0.82 to –0.43 ] ; P < .001 ) language function tests , even in the absence of major disabilities and independent of social economic status .
: While growing up , preterm-born children have increasing difficulties with complex language function
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE : Preterm-born children ( < 37 weeks ’ gestation ) have higher rates of language function problems compared with term-born children .
It is unknown whether these problems decrease , deteriorate , or remain stable over time .
The goal of this research was to determine the developmental course of language functions in preterm-born children from 3 to 12 years of age .
Cognitive development in low risk preterm infants at 3–4 years of life
Background : Major neurological h and icaps and neuropsychological disturbances are more common in ex-preterm children than their counterparts born at term . Objective : To establish in a prospect i ve study whether a characteristic neuropsychological profile exists in ex-preterm children who do not exhibit neurodevelopmental deficits on routine clinical examination . Methods : Thirty intellectually normal children born preterm ( 30–34 weeks gestation ) without major neurological disabilities and a control group of term children matched for age , sex , and parental educational and occupational status were assessed at 3–4 years of age to obtain a complete neuropsychological profile . Intellectual ability , language comprehension and expression , perceptual and visual motor function , working memory , and attention and behavioural problems were investigated . Results : Even in the absence of major neurological signs , children born preterm achieved lower mean scores than controls on the Stanford-Binet intelligence scale ( 110.8 v 121 , p<0.001 ) , visual perception test ( 33.8 v 42.7 , p<0.001 ) , visual motor integration test ( 42.6 v 47.4 , p = 0.049 ) , memory for location test ( 8.4 v 9.5 , p = 0.007 ) , sustained attention test ( 41.6 v 51.5 , p = 0.009 ) , and the picture vocabulary test ( 33.3 v 44.7 , p = 0.021 ) . Conclusions : Neuropsychological abnormalities can be detected early in childhood in apparently normal ex-preterm children and are consistent with a growing body of evidence that prematurity may be associated with long term neuropsychological morbidity in childhood and adolescence
RESULTS : Preterm-born children scored significantly lower compared with term-born children on simple ( d = –0.45 [ 95 % CI : –0.59 to –0.30 ] ; P < .001 ) and on complex ( d = –0.62 [ 95 % CI : –0.82 to –0.43 ] ; P < .001 ) language function tests , even in the absence of major disabilities and independent of social economic status .
: While growing up , preterm-born children have increasing difficulties with complex language function
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE : Preterm-born children ( < 37 weeks ’ gestation ) have higher rates of language function problems compared with term-born children .
It is unknown whether these problems decrease , deteriorate , or remain stable over time .
The goal of this research was to determine the developmental course of language functions in preterm-born children from 3 to 12 years of age .