title: Early risk predictors for impaired numerical skills in 5-year-old children born before 32 weeks of gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To unravel risk predictors for impaired numerical skills at 5 years of age in a population-based cohort of very preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2003 and August 2006, we prospectively enrolled all infants born in Tyrol with <32 weeks of gestation. A total of 161 of 223 preterm infants (participation rate 72.2%) had a detailed examination at 5 years of age including cognitive assessment (Hannover-Wechsler Intelligence Test for preschool children, third edition (HAWIVA-III) or Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test (SON-R)). In 135 children, numerical abilities were assessed with the dyscalculia test TEDI-MATH. The association between pre- and postnatal factors and impaired numerical skills was analyzed by means of logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyscalculia test showed delayed numerical skills (TEDI-MATH Sum T-score <40) in 27 of 135 children tested (20.0%). In half of the children tested, delayed numerical abilities were related to lower IQ scores. Smoking in pregnancy, intracerebral haemorrhage and chronic lung disease were predictive of delayed numerical skills at 5 years of age in the multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified risk predictors for impaired numerical skills in preterm infants. Our data support the role of both pre- and perinatal factors in the evolution of mathematical deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Divisions of Neonatology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. ursula.kohlendorfer@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kiechl-Kohlendorfer
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ralser
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pupp Peglow
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pehboeck-Walser
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fussenegger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors