PREMATURITY AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AS RISK FACTORS FOR NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The introduction of modern technologies and the widespread use of intensive care in neonatology have led to an increase in the survival rate of children, who were born deeply premature with a low, very low, and extremely low body weight. The purpose of the study: evaluation of  the peculiarities of  neuropsychic development and the frequency of  occurrence of  neuropsychiatric disorders by the age of 5-8 years in children, who were born deeply premature with extremely low, very low, and low body weight in comparison with healthy peers. We examined 122 patients aged from 5 years 0 months to 8 years 0 months, 36 were born with very low body weight, 36 with extremely low body weight, 50 with low body weight, and 30 children were included into the control group. To assess the main complaints in patients, a structured questionnaire for parents was used. To study emotional and behavioral disorders in children, T.Achenbach’s structured questionnaire for the parents was used. Results and discussion. Data from the T.Achenbach’s parents’ questionnaire indicated significantly more expressed and pronounced manifestations of isolation, psychosomatic disorders, anxiety, problems of socialization and thinking, attention disorders, problems of behavior and aggressiveness in the examined children. In the groups of the examined patients, compared with peers, were significantly higher scores on the scales of “Internalizing manifestations” and “Externalizing manifestations”. It was shown that profound prematurity and birth with extremely low, very low and low body weight are important predisposing factors for the neurodevelopmental disorders in children: autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental dyspraxia, specific learning difficulties. Early diagnosis of these conditions determines the effectiveness of therapeutic measures with the need of individual approach and comprehensive medical-psychological-pedagogical support.