Attention problems in children born very preterm: evidence from a performance-based measure

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.