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Hand Preference and Cognitive, Motor, and Behavioral Functioning in 10-Year-Old Extremely Preterm Children

Alice C Burnett1, Peter J Anderson2, Robert M Joseph3

  • 1Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Premature Infant Follow-Up Program, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Neonatal Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mixed-handedness in extremely preterm children is linked to higher risks of functional deficits. Left-handed and right-handed children showed similar outcomes at 10 years of age.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Hand preference is a fundamental aspect of human lateralization.
  • Understanding its association with neurodevelopmental outcomes is crucial for early intervention.
  • Extremely preterm birth is a significant risk factor for developmental challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between hand preference (left, mixed, right) and functional outcomes in extremely preterm children.
  • To compare cognitive, academic, motor, and behavioral function across different hand preference groups.
  • To identify potential risks associated with non-right-handedness in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 864 extremely preterm children was assessed at 10 years of age.
  • Hand preference was categorized as left, mixed, or right.
  • Standardized assessments evaluated cognitive, academic, motor, and behavioral functions.

Main Results:

  • Left-handed and right-handed children demonstrated comparable functional performance.
  • Children with mixed-handedness exhibited significantly higher odds of functional deficits across multiple domains compared to right-handed children.
  • Specific deficits were observed in cognitive, academic, motor, and behavioral areas for the mixed-handed group.

Conclusions:

  • Mixed-handedness is associated with an increased risk of functional impairments in extremely preterm children.
  • Hand preference may serve as a potential indicator for closer monitoring of neurodevelopmental trajectories.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and targeted interventions for mixed-handed preterm individuals.

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