title: Oculomotor control in a group of very low birth weight (VLBW) children.
abstract: VLBW infants are at risk of lesions including intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia. Those with normal IQ still present with reading difficulties. Oculomotor performance was assessed on 14 VLBWs (IQ > 85) and 15 full-term age-matched controls. Anti-saccade errors were significantly higher for the VLBWs (78%) compared to full terms (62%) (P = 0.02). Smooth pursuit latency was longer for the VLBWs compared to the full terms. Greater anti-saccade errors may be indicative of a lesion affecting the frontal cortex or developmental delay. Oculomotor deficits in VLBW children may be associated with the higher incidence of reading difficulties that have been reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthoptics, Department of Allied Health Professions, University of Liverpool, Thompson Yates Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK. newts@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newsham
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Knox
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology