Middle‐School‐Age Outcomes in Children with Very Low Birthweight

Abstract
Most previous studies of children with birthweight M= 11 years) to 55 children with birthweight 750 – 1,499 g and 49 term controls. The groups were matched on age, gender, and demographic variables at the time of an early‐school‐age assessment (mean age 7 years). The <750‐g birthweight group fared less well at middle school age than the term group on measures of cognitive function, achievement, behavior, and academic performance. In many instances, outcomes were less favorable for the <750‐g children than for the 750 to 1,499‐g group. Children in the <750‐g group who were free of neurosensory disorders and global cognitive impairment performed more poorly on several tests than their term counterparts. Group differences in this subsample on tests of motor skills, math, and the ability to copy and recall a complex drawing remained significant even after controlling for IQ. Disparities between the <750‐g and term groups increased with age for some measures. Despite favorable outcomes for many children in the <750‐g group, this population is at risk for long‐term developmental problems.