Cognitive Development of Polish Preterm Kindergarten Children

Aim. To study cognitive function at pre-school age in a cohort of children who were born preterm and required neonatal intensive care or care in neo natology departments in two Gdansk hospitals. Participants and Methods. 99 preterm children, born from 2001 to 2003, and 115 full-term healthy children were enrolled in the study. The mean gestational age in the experimental group was 32 gestational weeks, the mean birth weight was 1760 grams, the mean Apgar score was 5.56, and the mean time spent in the NICU was 40 days. For purposes of analysis the experimental group was divided into three subgroups according to gestational age (I-III) and birth weight (IV-VI). Cognitive development was measured using the Columbia and Terman-Merrill scales, along with a battery of perceptualmotor tests. Results. Preterm children showed lower scores than controls on all measured scales. Children from subgroups I and II showed lower scores on verbal and perceptual-motor scales than children from subgroup III. Children from subgroup IV had lower scores than children from subgroup VI. Preterm children with early brain impairments (IVH II, III, IV) had lower IQ scores than children from IVH I and preterms without brain damage. Hypoglycemic children had lower scores in verbal processing, perceptual-motor skills, and coordination, concentration and memory. Conclusions. The results indicate that 0-3 services alone are not sufficient to prevent educational disadvantage in this population, and preterm children require intervention also in the kindergarten years. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF POLISH PRETERM KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN