Differences in Motor Development between Preterm Infants and Full-Term Preschool Children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Advances in neonatal care improve preterm infant survival.
• Preterm birth is associated with increased risks of neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
• Motor and sensory deficits can negatively impact academic achievement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gross and fine motor development in preterm and full-term children aged 3-6 years.
• To utilize the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales 2 (PDMS-II) for assessment.
• To identify factors influencing motor development in this age group.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 15 preterm and 15 full-term children (aged 3-6 years) was recruited.
• Participants were matched for age and sex.
• The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales 2 (PDMS-II) was administered to assess motor skills.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in PDMS-II scores were observed across most subscales between preterm and full-term children.
• The 'grasping' subscale was the only exception, showing no significant difference.
• No significant differences in motor development were found between preterm children who participated in early intervention programs and those who did not.
• No correlation was identified between gestational age or birth weight and motor development outcomes in preschool-aged children.

Conclusions:

• Children born preterm exhibit significant deficits in gross and fine motor development compared to their full-term counterparts.
• Early intervention programs did not demonstrate a statistically significant impact on motor development in the studied preterm group.
• Motor development at preschool age was not correlated with gestational age or birth weight in this cohort.