title: The crucial role of the predictability of motor response in visuomotor deficits in very preterm children at school age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to clarify the underpinnings of widespread visuomotor deficits in very preterm children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight very preterm children (26 males, 32 females; mean [SD] age 7 y 6 mo [5 mo], gestational age 29.2 wks [1.6]; birthweight 1237 g [336]), recruited from a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit, and 64 age-matched, comparison children born at term (28 males, 36 females; mean age [SD] 7 y 8 mo [7 mo]) participated. IQ was measured using a short form of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd edition). A research diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) was defined as a score below the 15th centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Visuomotor performance was assessed using a computerized task, in which children followed a predictable (structured condition) or an unpredictable (non-structured condition) trail on a touch screen using their index finger.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six per cent of the very preterm children had a research diagnosis of DCD, compared with 16% of children born at term (p<0.001, odds ratio 4.69 [95% CI 2.01-10.99]). No group difference in visuomotor performance was present for the structured condition. In the non-structured condition, children born very preterm with and without a research diagnosis of DCD had poorer visuomotor performance than those born at term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predictability of the required motor response plays a crucial role in visuomotor deficits in very preterm children, regardless of DCD status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jorrit F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: De Kieviet
authors.forename: Cor J J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stoof
authors.forename: Christiaan J A
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Geldof
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Piek
authors.forename: Harrie N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.forename: Ruurd M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Van Elburg
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oosterlaan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales