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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol
Published on: February 18, 2012
Parents' report of sensory responsiveness and temperament in preterm infants
J Case-Smith1, L Butcher, D Reed
1Division of Occupational Therapy, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Insights
Preterm infants show more sensory defensiveness and difficult temperaments than full-term infants. Sensory responsiveness in infants is linked to temperament but not directly to developmental function scores.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Sensory processing in infants
- Infant temperament
Background:
- Premature infants, especially those with neonatal intensive care unit stays, face risks for sensory modulation issues and developmental problems.
- Sensory processing and temperament are crucial aspects of early childhood development.
- Understanding these factors can inform early intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare sensory responsiveness between preterm and full-term infants.
- To investigate the relationship between sensory responsiveness, infant temperament, and developmental function.
- To identify potential early indicators of developmental challenges in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Caregivers of preterm (n=45) and full-term (n=22) infants completed the Sensory Rating Scale.
- Preterm infants underwent evaluation using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID-II).
Main Results:
- Preterm infants demonstrated significantly more tactile defensiveness and difficult temperament behaviors compared to full-term infants.
- Specific analysis revealed sensory-seeking behaviors and high activity levels in preterm infants.
- Caregiver reports indicated a significant correlation between sensory responsiveness and temperament, but not with BSID-II scores.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants exhibit mild sensory responsiveness and temperament challenges, consistent with existing research.
- The study did not find a definitive link between parental reports of infant sensory responsiveness and developmental outcomes.
- Further research is needed to clarify the complex interplay between sensory processing, temperament, and long-term development in preterm populations.
Objectives:
Although most infants born prematurely do not have major developmental problems, those with perinatal medical problems and lengthy stays in the neonatal intensive care unit are at risk for sensory modulation problems and developmental sequelae. This study compared sensory responsiveness in preterm and full-term infants and examined the relationship of sensory responsiveness to temperament and developmental function.
Method:
Caregivers of infants with (n = 45) and without (n = 22) prematurity were asked to complete the Sensory Rating Scale. The preterm infants were also evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID-II).
Results:
The preterm infants exhibited more frequent behaviors indicating tactile defensiveness and difficult temperament than did the full-term infants. When specific items were examined, the preterm infants displayed sensory-seeking behaviors and high activity levels. As measured by caregivers' report, sensory responsiveness was significantly related to temperament. It was not related to BSID-II Mental and Psychomotor scale scores.
Conclusion:
This study supports the findings of others that preterm infants have mild problems in sensory responsiveness and temperament. Correlational results do not support a definitive relationship between parents' reports of their infants' sensory responsiveness and developmental function.
