Development of fine motor skills in preterm infants

Abstract

ASQAges and Stage Questionnaire BOTMP Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency MABC Movement Assessment Battery for ChildrenFine motor skills are related to functioning in daily life and at school. We reviewed the status of knowledge, in preterm children, on the development of fine motor skills, the relation with gross motor skills, and risk factors for impaired fine motor skills. We searched the past 15 years in PubMed, using ['motor skills' or 'fine motor function' and 'preterm infant'] as the search string. Impaired gross and fine motor skills are among the most frequently occurring problems encountered by preterm children who do not develop cerebral palsy. The prevalence is around 40% for mild to moderate impairment and 20% for moderate impairment. Fine motor skill scores on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children are about 0.62 of a standard deviation lower compared with term children. Risk factors for fine motor impairments include moderately preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] 2.0) and, among very preterm children (<32wk gestation), intra-uterine growth restriction (ORs 2-3), inflammatory conditions (late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, ORs 3-5), and dexamethasone therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 2.7).A better understanding of factors that play a role in the development of and recovery from brain injury could guide future intervention attempts aimed at improving fine motor skills of preterm children.Survival rates of preterm infants have improved during recent decades, and this tendency is continuing. During the same period, the prevalence of major impairments has remained relatively constant or even decreased, 1 but the prevalence of milder dysfunctions is high, 2,3 with a tendency to increase. 4,5 This mainly appears to be the result of the increased survival of very preterm infants (gestational age <32wk), although more sensitive testing may also play a role. 5 Cognitive, behavioural, and mild motor problems without major motor deficits are by now the most dominant neurodevelopmental sequelae in children born preterm, with prevalences reported up to 50 to 70%.5 These 'high prevalence, low severity' impairments often do not occur in isolation and may considerably hamper the children's functional abilities in daily life. 6,7 Among the most frequently occurring problems encountered by preterm children who do not develop cerebral palsy (CP), are impaired gross and fine motor skills.2,4 Because particularly fine motor skills are related to adequate functioning in daily life and at school, our aim was to review the current status of knowledge, in preterm children, on the development of fine motor skills, the relation with gross motor skills, and risk factors for impaired fine motor skills. To this end, we searched PubMed for relevant articles.Impairments in fine motor skills may hamper various aspects of daily functioning such as getting dressed, lacing shoes, eating, and writing. In preterm children without CP, it has been shown that poor fine motor skills affect the learning of w...

Prenatal ischemia deteriorates white matter, brain organization, and function: implications for prematurity and cerebral palsy

“…14,25 Unfortunately, CP is present in 75% to 86% of children with cystic WMI who display disabling motor impairments, such as spasticity and abnormal control of movement and posture. 1 In addition to impairments in motor skills, CP is also characterized by reduced abilities in touch and proprioception discrimination.…”

Prematurely delivered rats show improved motor coordination during sensory-evoked motor responses compared to age-matched controls

“…Therefore, early birth may prematurely expose the animal to postnatal stimuli in ways that are detrimental to its overall survival, even while enhancing motor coordination. There is abundant evidence that preterm birth in humans can lead to atypical developmental trajectories, including functional differences (often deficits) in fine motor skills [74], visual and attentional processing, memory, and IQ scores, among other things [for review see 75]. In the present case, care should be taken in drawing parallels to the effects of early birth on the development of motor coordination in human infants.…”

Features of Physical and Neuro-Psychological Development of Children with Low, Very Low and Extremely Low Birth Weight in Different Age Periods of Life

“…Так, ранее был опубликован 15-лет-ний обзор нарушений моторных функций среди недо-ношенных новорожденных, не имевших органического поражения ЦНС. Была установлена статистически зна-чимая ассоциация между нарушением мелкой моторики в раннем детском возрасте и задержкой внутриутроб-ного развития, наличием в неонатальном периоде вос-палительных заболеваний (некротический энтероколит) и системным применением дексаметазона [11].…”