Parental factors in cognitive outcome of non-handicapped low birthweight infants.

Abstract

A population based cohort of 144 children weighing less than 2000 g who were without major handicap, and a random control sample of 163 children born at term and weighing over 3000 g were investigated. The aim was to assess the relative importance for cognitive development at 5 years of age, of birthweight, parental demographic factors, and factors related to the environment in which the child was reared. The mean non-verbal IQ was 6 1 points lower (95% CI, 2-3 to 10) for the low birthweight (LBW) group, but the difference was reduced to 4-8 points (95% CI, 1.1 to 8.5) after adjusting for confounding parental demographic and childrearing factors. The verbal IQ was similar for the two groups after such adjustment. Paternal education was the main confounding variable, and demographic factors such as parental education and family income were much stronger predictors of child IQ than birthweight or factors related to the childrearing environment.There was no evidence that the cognitive development of low birthweight children was more sensitive to a nonoptimal childrearing environment than that of normal birthweight children. These findings indicate that the risk of impaired cognitive development increases with decreasing socioeconomic status, and that this risk is much larger than, and independent of, the small risk attributable to low birthweight. (Arch Dis Child 1995; 73: F135-F142)

Selectively Reduced Posterior Corpus Callosum Size in a Population-Based Sample of Young Adults Born with Low Birth Weight

“…The subjects have been followed closely during childhood and puberty, with 3 major clinical and psychological assessments at age 5, 15, and 19 years. [18][19][20] Because no brain imaging had been performed during the 2 first follow-ups, we found it reasonable to add a head MR imaging at age 19 years, when the brain maturation is nearly completed. The study participants were invited to undergo an MR imaging and for the present radiologic follow-up at age 19, we included 113 LBW survivors (65% of the initial cohort) and 100 controls.…”

“…[18][19][20] In total, 44 were excluded (22 died and 22 had major handicaps or cerebral palsy) and of the 173 eligible survivors 134 participated in the clinical followup. 18,21 The controls were randomly selected from an age-matched population of neonates with a GA of Ͼ37 weeks, a BW Ͼ3000 g, and without any need for assisted support in the neonatal period. The subjects have been followed closely during childhood and puberty, with 3 major clinical and psychological assessments at age 5, 15, and 19 years.…”

Level of maternal education and performance of Black, South African infants on the 1996 Griffiths Mental Development Scale

“…While home environment appears to play an important role in the cognitive and academic outcome of high risk infants, findings are inconsistent with regard to its influence on motor skills. 46 However, Goyen and Lui 13 found that the development of gross motor skills appears to be differentially influenced by the home environment, with infants from lower socio-economic groups performing significantly poorer than their wealthier counterparts. This may subsequently impact on the general intellectual functioning of these infants as motor development during these formative years provides a foundation for subsequent development and optimises occupational performance in the areas of self-care, learning, recreation and play.…”

Langage oral et écrit chez des enfants prématurés: résultats à 7½ ans

“…Depuis une vingtaine d'années, de nombreuses études se sont intéressées au déve-loppment de l'enfant né prématurément et en particulier à celui de fonctions complexes comme le langage et la lecture [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…Plus l'enfant grandit, et plus il devient difficile d'extraire l'impact de la prématurité sur les apprentissages. Cependant tous les auteurs ayant pris en compte les facteurs environnementaux constatent l'importance de cette variable associée à la prématurité [3,[11][12][13].…”