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Sucking behaviour in infants born preterm and developmental outcomes at primary school age
Author(s) -
WolthuisStigter Mechteld I,
Da Costa Saakje P,
Bos Arend F,
Krijnen Wim P,
Van Der Schans Cees P,
Luinge Margreet R
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.13438
Subject(s) - confidence interval , gestational age , pediatrics , medicine , intelligence quotient , linear regression , spearman's rank correlation coefficient , motor skill , psychology , pregnancy , cognition , psychiatry , statistics , genetics , mathematics , biology
Aim To determine the association between sucking in infants born preterm and developmental outcomes at 5 years. Method Thirty‐four infants were included (mean gestational age 30wks 4d, mean birthweight 1407g). The Neonatal Oral‐Motor Assessment Scale was used longitudinally from 37 to 50 weeks postmenstrual age. At 5 years, we assessed motor skills, intelligence, language, verbal memory, and behavioural problems. Linear regression analyses were performed to test whether aspects of sucking behaviour predicted these developmental outcomes. Where linear regression was not appropriate, Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between sucking and developmental outcomes. Results Sucking was associated with total motor skills ( B [unstandardized correlation coefficient for normally distributed data]=22.66, 95% confidence interval [ CI ] 6.61 to 38.71), balance (Spearman's ρ =0.64, p <0.001), total intelligence ( B =−1.16, 95% CI −1.89 to −0.44, B =10.48, 95% CI 0.39 to 20.71, B =−2.22, 95% CI −3.42 to −1.02), verbal intelligence ( B =−0.95; 95% CI −1.83 to −0.07, B =−2.02; 95% CI −3.55 to −0.49), performance intelligence ( B =−1.34, 95% CI −2.13 to −0.54, B =12.36, 95% CI 1.13 to 23.60, B =−2.37, 95% CI −3.75 to −0.96), and language ( B =−1.78, 95% CI −3.36 to −0.19). All associations were in the same direction: the better the sucking, the higher the test scores. Verbal memory and behavioural problems were not associated with sucking. Interpretation Abnormal sucking between 42 weeks and 50 weeks postmenstrual age may reflect abnormal neurological functioning in children born preterm.