School Performance and Neurodevelopment of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants: First Report From Turkey

Koc O., Kavuncuoglu S., RAMOĞLU M. G., Aldemir E., Aktalay A., Eras Z.

JOURNAL OF CHILD NEUROLOGY, vol.31, no.2, pp.170-176, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0883073815587028
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CHILD NEUROLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.170-176
  • Keywords: very low birth weight, prematurity, neurodevelopmental prognosis, school performance, DEVELOPMENTAL-STATUS, EXTREMELY PREMATURE, PARENTS EVALUATION, CHILDREN, AGE, SEQUELAE, BORN
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Very low birth weight preterm infants are under significant risk of neurologic, developmental, and somatic problems. In this study, 90 infants born with a birth weight <1500 g and/or with a gestational age <32 weeks were evaluated after the first year of elementary school to assess neurodevelopment. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) test, Pediatric Symptom Checklist, and Parent Evaluation of Developmental Status were performed. Mental retardation, cerebral palsy, blindness, epilepsy, and posthemorrhagic hydrocephaly incidences were 14%, 7%, 2%, 5%, and 2%, respectively. The WISC-R score of 32 patients (35.5%) were below 85. Perinatal asphyxia, abnormal neurologic examination, and delayed or impaired speech correlated significantly with low WISC-R scores. Education and income of the father had positive impact on WISC-R scores (P = .042 and P = .026). Parents' concern and presence of cognitive problems were correlated (P = .026). Environmental factors, as well as the prevention of morbidity, affected school performance positively.