Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Attention problems in children born very preterm: evidence from a performance-based measure
Marie Camerota1,2, Francisco Xavier Castellanos3, Brian S Carter4
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. marie_camerota@brown.edu.
Insights
Children born very preterm often face attention challenges. The Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) shows age-related improvements but significant variability, with many VPT children exhibiting elevated attention problems.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Pediatric psychology
- Developmental neuroscience
Background:
- Children born very preterm (VPT) are at increased risk for attention problems.
- Attention deficits are a significant concern in VPT populations.
- Performance-based attention measures are understudied in VPT children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) in children born VPT.
- To determine rates of clinically elevated K-CPT scores.
- To examine changes in K-CPT scores over time and their association with parent-reported attention issues.
Main Methods:
- 305 VPT children completed K-CPT at ages 5-7.
- Parent-reported ADHD symptoms and diagnoses were collected.
- Statistical analyses included mixed models and correlations to assess score changes and associations.
Main Results:
- K-CPT scores improved with age (5-7 years) but showed variability.
- Approximately one-third of VPT children had clinically elevated attention scores.
- K-CPT scores correlated modestly with parent-reported ADHD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The K-CPT is a potentially valuable tool for research and clinical assessment in VPT populations.
- Attention problems are a key area of concern for VPT children.
- Performance-based tests like the K-CPT offer insights complementary to parent reports.
Background:
Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk for attention problems. This study's purpose was to describe the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) assessment in children born VPT, including rates of clinically elevated scores, change over time, and associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems.
Methods:
We studied 305 children from a multi-site study of children born VPT who completed at least one K-CPT assessment at age 5, 6, and/or 7 years. Parent-reported ADHD symptoms and diagnosis were also collected. We calculated K-CPT completion rates, mean scores, and rates of clinically elevated scores at each timepoint. Linear mixed models examined change over time in K-CPT scores. Correlations and generalized linear models investigated associations between K-CPT scores and ADHD symptoms and diagnoses.
Results:
K-CPT scores showed expected age-related improvements from age 5-7, with significant intra- and inter-individual variability. Up to 1/3 of children had clinically elevated attention problems and another 1/3 had subclinical elevations. K-CPT scores were modestly correlated with parent-rated ADHD symptoms and children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis performed worse on nearly all K-CPT metrics.
Conclusion:
Performance-based measures like the K-CPT can be useful for research and clinical practice in VPT populations.
Impact:
Attention problems are a specific area of weakness for children born very preterm. Performance-based tests of attention have benefits and drawbacks compared to parent report measures yet are understudied in this population. We examined one performance-based measure (the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test [K-CPT]) in 305 children born very preterm. We observed improving task scores from age 5-7 years with significant intra- and inter-individual variability, a sizable proportion of children with clinically and subclinically elevated scores, and modest associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems. The K-CPT could be a useful clinical and research tool in this population.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:30Information Processing Approach