Cognition, Academic Progress, Behavior and Self-Concept at 14 Years of Very Low Birth Weight Children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare cognition, academic progress, behavior, and self-concept children of very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1501 g) born in the period 1980 to 1982 with randomly selected children of normal birth weight (NBW, birth weight > 2,499 g). At 14 years of age, 130 (84.4%) of 154 VLBW and 42 (70.0%) of 60 NBW children were assessed. Ten VLBW children and one NBW child who had cerebral palsy were excluded. VLBW children scored at a significantly lower level on all three composite scales of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd Edition. VLBW children were also significantly disadvantaged on more specific cognitive processes, including tests of visual processing and visual memory and on subtests reflecting learning and problem solving. Only in arithmetic was a difference between the groups discerned on tests of achievement. Significantly more VLBW children were rated by teachers as socially rejected and by their parents as having learning problems at school. VLBW children had significantly reduced self-esteem. VLBW children had more cognitive, academic, and behavioral problems and lower self-esteem at 14 years of age than NBW control subjects.

Dificuldade de aprendizagem em escolares de muito baixo peso ao nascer

“…None of the researchers observed reading disorders in isolation, but, in four articles, arithmetic problems were observed in isolation. 40,46 Seven of the 16 studies that detailed which academic subjects were affected reported problems with writing and spelling (dictation), which, in common with reading disorders, are learning problems related to language.…”

“…Many authors 8,16,18,20,28,[39][40][41]46 reported associations between very low birth weight and cognitive deterioration, gauged by intelligence quotient. Weindrich et al 39 specified non-verbal intellectual compromise in eleven-year old schoolchildren, with significantly lower mean scores compared to those born weighing less than 2,500 g.…”

Mathematics deficiencies in children with very low birth weight or very preterm birth

“…Cognitive Correlates Several studies of children with VLBW/VPTB have found that selective deficits in mathematics are accompanied by specific cognitive weaknesses, most often in the domains of visual spatial and perceptual motor abilities and executive function. Rickards et al (2001), for example, found deficits in mathematics but not in reading or spelling in comparing their VLBW cohort at age 14 years with a NBW group. The VLBW cohort also had impairments on tests of visual processing, visual memory, and visual perceptual organization, but not in most IQ subtests.…”

“…With respect to potential age differences in MD, impairments on tests of mathematics achievement in VLBW/ VPTB cohorts are evident from the early school-age years and persist into adolescence and young adulthood (Saigal et al, 1990;Taylor et al, 1995;Botting et al, 1998;Saigal et al, 2000;Rickards et al, 2001;Hack et al, 2002). To our knowledge, only two studies have examined changes in mathematics performance longitudinally in children with low birth weight.…”

Dopamine Receptor D2 GeneTaq1A(C32806T) Polymorphism Modifies the Relationship Between Birth Weight and Educational Attainment in Adulthood: 21-Year Follow-up of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

“…[1][2][3][4] Children who were born preterm or small for gestational age have been found to be at risk for reduced cognitive test scores and to have higher rates of problems in memory, attention, and neuromotor function. 1,5,6 Very low birth weight (VLBW; Ͻ1500 g), especially, has been shown to be a risk and to predict school difficulties 4,7,8 and low academic achievement that was apparent still in young adulthood. [1][2][3][4] However, previous studies of general populations suggested that birth weight is associated with cognition and educational attainment across the full birth weight range.…”