Extremely Premature Babies Face Developmental Issues

DESCRIPTION

In this study Johanna Månsson assessed 400 premature infants and compared them to a control of 400 infants born full term.  Premature birth is a causal factor in both physical and psychological (cognitive) problems.  Månsson  found that by 2-1/2 years old that the premature children had lower scores on assessments of motor function, language, and cognition.    Månsson says “the findings indicate that early interventions may be needed to ensure that extremely premature babies catch up developmentally.”

SOURCE:

Time Magazine, Feb. 11, 2015,  by  Alexandra Sifferlin,

LINK TO RESOURCE:

http://time.com/3705755/premature-babies-developmental-risks/

ORIGINAL SOURCE:  News and Press Releases Lund University February 11, 2015

Publication:   Johanna Månsson’s PhD thesis is entitled Born near the limit of viability – developmental outcomes 2.5 years later, and is part of the national multidisciplinary project Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study

LINK TO RESOURCE

http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/new-study-assesses-premature-babies-at-25-years-old

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•Begin the discussion by outlining the stages of gestation and interweave the causes of prematurity including terratogens, alcohol, drugs usage, and especially nutrition.

•What are the medical issues that are the consequences of prematurity?

•What are the cognitive problems?

•Based upon studies in this field, what early intervention strategies are found to be effective? (interweave information on language and intelligence from the textbook)