Neuropsychologic and motor function in small-for-gestation preschoolers

The aim of this study was to evaluate neuropsychologic and motor performance in term small-for-gestation preschool children. A patient-based sample of 311 5-year-old children with birth weights less than the fifteenth percentile for gestation was compared with a random sample of 321 appropriate-for-gestation control subjects. The main assessment tools were subscales from the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Revised, subscales from the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities, tests of manual dexterity and figure copying, and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales. The small-for-gestation children had mean scores on tests of visuospatial and visuomotor abilities that were one fourth standard deviation lower than appropriate-for-gestation control subjects and slightly lower scores on manual dexterity. The small-for-gestation children were comparable to appropriate-for-gestation children regarding motor performance. We therefore conclude that the neuropsychologic and neuromotor performance in preschool years of term small-for-gestation children is reassuring.