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Development of fine motor skills in preterm infants
Arend F Bos1, Koenraad N J A Van Braeckel, Marrit M Hitzert
1Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Insights
Preterm children often experience impaired fine motor skills, affecting daily activities. Understanding risk factors like prematurity and inflammatory conditions is key to improving their motor development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Child Health
Background:
- Fine motor skills are crucial for daily functioning and academic success.
- Preterm children frequently exhibit motor skill impairments, even without cerebral palsy.
- Understanding these impairments is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on fine motor skill development in preterm children.
- To examine the relationship between fine and gross motor skills in this population.
- To identify risk factors associated with impaired fine motor skills in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search in PubMed over the past 15 years.
- Search terms included 'motor skills,' 'fine motor function,' and 'preterm infant.'
- Analysis focused on prevalence, comparative scores, and identified risk factors.
Main Results:
- Approximately 40% of preterm children have mild to moderate fine motor impairments, with 20% experiencing moderate impairment.
- Fine motor scores in preterm children are significantly lower (0.62 SD) than in term-born children.
- Risk factors include moderate preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, inflammatory conditions (sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis), and dexamethasone therapy.
Conclusions:
- Preterm birth is associated with a high prevalence of fine motor skill deficits.
- Specific factors such as prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, and medical complications increase the risk.
- Further research into brain injury mechanisms may inform interventions to enhance fine motor skills in preterm populations.
Abstract:
Fine motor skills are related to functioning in daily life and at school. We reviewed the status of knowledge, in preterm children, on the development of fine motor skills, the relation with gross motor skills, and risk factors for impaired fine motor skills. We searched the past 15 years in PubMed, using ['motor skills' or 'fine motor function' and 'preterm infant'] as the search string. Impaired gross and fine motor skills are among the most frequently occurring problems encountered by preterm children who do not develop cerebral palsy. The prevalence is around 40% for mild to moderate impairment and 20% for moderate impairment. Fine motor skill scores on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children are about 0.62 of a standard deviation lower compared with term children. Risk factors for fine motor impairments include moderately preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] 2.0) and, among very preterm children (<32 wk gestation), intra-uterine growth restriction (ORs 2-3), inflammatory conditions (late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, ORs 3-5), and dexamethasone therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR 2.7). A better understanding of factors that play a role in the development of and recovery from brain injury could guide future intervention attempts aimed at improving fine motor skills of preterm children.
