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Cognitive profiles of extremely preterm children: Full-Scale IQ hides strengths and weaknesses

Ylva F Kaul1, Martin Johansson1, Johanna Månsson2,3

  • 1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|January 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Extremely preterm children show cognitive weaknesses, particularly in working memory and perceptual abilities. However, detailed analysis reveals no specific cognitive profile, highlighting the need for individualized support for these children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Children born extremely preterm (EPT) often exhibit neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Standard IQ assessments may not fully capture the cognitive strengths and weaknesses in EPT populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify a specific cognitive profile in EPT children.
  • To investigate cognitive deficits beyond Full-Scale IQ scores.
  • To determine the prevalence of multiple cognitive deficits in EPT children.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV) data.
  • Comparison between EPT children (n=359) and matched controls (n=367).
  • Data collected during a 6.5-year follow-up of a population-based prospective cohort.

Main Results:

  • EPT children performed worse than controls across all cognitive measures.
  • Largest group differences were observed in Perceptual Reasoning (PRI) and Working Memory (WMI).
  • Categorical analyses did not support a specific cognitive profile; many EPT children had multiple, often mild, deficits.

Conclusions:

  • EPT children exhibit specific weaknesses in working memory and perceptual reasoning.
  • Cognitive subscale heterogeneity suggests no distinct EPT cognitive profile.
  • Individual cognitive assessments are crucial for tailoring support to EPT children.
Abstract

Keywords:
WISC-IVcognitionextremely preterm childrenindexsubtest

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