[Learning achievement and current neurological status of premature, premature-dysmature and dysmature children at the age of 8].
In this study a group of preterm infants (birthweight less than or equal to 2000 g and/or gestational age less than or equal to 37 weeks), preterm-and-small for gestational age infants and term-and-small for gestational age infants (n = 50) was compared with a control group (n = 45, birthweight greater than 2500 g, gestational age greater than 37 weeks) at 8 years of age with respect to their class at school according to age, learning performance and present neurological state. With the exception of 12 infants in the study-group, referred from other hospitals, both groups were born at the University Hospital (Wilhelmina Gasthuis) of Amsterdam and have been matched in age and social class. Compared with the control group, the group of preterm infants had a (statistically significant) lower score on the three main variables. In the experimental group, diseases were often reported. Short gestational age (less than or equal to 33 weeks) turned out to be a more important risk factor than low birthweight. A weak relationship was found within the experimental group between social class and learning performance, independent of prematurity and present neurological state.
D000124:Achievement; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012923:Social Class
Leerprestaties en neurologische status praesens van prematuren, prematue-dysmaturen en dysmaturen op 8-jarige leeftijd.