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Behavioral outcomes of extremely low birth weight children at age 8 years

Maureen Hack1, Hudson G Taylor, Mark Schluchter

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. Mxh7@case.edu

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|March 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children show higher rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and symptoms of Autism and Asperger's disorders by age 8. Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants face increased risks for developmental challenges.
  • Behavioral problems and neurodevelopmental disorders are significant concerns for ELBW survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of behavioral issues and Autism/Asperger's disorder symptoms in 8-year-old extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children.
  • To compare behavioral outcomes of ELBW children with normal birth weight peers.

Main Methods:

  • Parental reports on behavior were collected for 219 ELBW children and 176 normal birth weight controls.
  • The Child Symptom Inventory assessed Symptom Severity Scores and DSM-IV criteria for various disorders.

Main Results:

  • ELBW children exhibited significantly higher mean Symptom Severity Scores for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes, Generalized Anxiety, Autistic disorder, and Asperger's disorder.
  • DSM-IV criteria revealed higher rates of inattentive and combined-type ADHD in ELBW children compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly the inattentive type, is prevalent in ELBW children.
  • Increased symptoms related to Autistic and Asperger's disorders in ELBW children at school age align with earlier childhood findings.
  • Early detection and intervention can enhance functioning and reduce distress for ELBW children and their families.
Abstract

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