Neurodevelopmental Follow-up of Preterm Infants: What Is New?

Abstract

There is increasing evidence of ongoing changes occurring in short-term and long-term motor and language outcomes in former premature infants. As rates of moderate to severe cerebral palsy (CP) have decreased, there has been increased awareness of the impact of mild CP and of developmental coordination disorder on the preterm population. Language delays and disorders continue to be among the most common outcomes. In conjunction with medical morbidities, there is increased awareness of the negative impact of family psycho-socioeconomic adversities on preterm outcomes and of the importance of intervention for these adversities beginning in the neonatal ICU.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Developmental coordination disorder; Language; Neurodevelopment; Premature infants; Socioeconomic status.