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. 2022 Jun-Jul;43(5):e312-e319.
doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000001031. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

School Readiness in Children Born <30 Weeks' Gestation at Risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study

Alicia J Spittle  1   2   3 , Joy E Olsen  2   3 , Tara L FitzGerald  1   2 , Kate L Cameron  1   2 , Reem A Albesher  1   2   4 , Benjamin F Mentiplay  2   5 , Karli Treyvaud  2   6 , Alice Burnett  2   3   7 , Katherine J Lee  2   7 , Leona Pascoe  2   8 , Gehan Roberts  2   7 , Lex W Doyle  2   3   7   9 , Peter Anderson  2   8 , Jeanie L Y Cheong  2   3   9
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School Readiness in Children Born <30 Weeks' Gestation at Risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Prospective Cohort Study

Alicia J Spittle et al. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2022 Jun-Jul.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether school readiness differs between children born <30 weeks' gestation who are classified as at risk for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and those who are not.

Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of children born <30 weeks' gestation. Children were classified as at risk for DCD at a corrected age of 4 to 5 years if they scored <16th centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2), had a full scale IQ score of ≥80 on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV), and had no cerebral palsy. Children were assessed on 4 school readiness domains: (1) health/physical development [Physical Health domain of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test, and Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire], (2) social-emotional development (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and PedsQL psychosocial domains), (3) cognitive skills/general knowledge (WPPSI-IV), and (4) language skills (WPPSI-IV).

Results: Of 123 children assessed, 16 were ineligible (IQ < 80 or cerebral palsy: n = 15; incomplete MABC-2: n = 1); 28 of 107 (26%) eligible children were at risk for DCD. Children at risk for DCD had poorer performance on all school readiness domains, with group differences of more than 0.4 SD in health/physical development, social-emotional development, and language skills and up to 0.8 SD for cognitive skills/general knowledge compared with those not at risk of DCD.

Conclusion: Being at risk for DCD in children born <30 weeks' gestation is associated with challenges in multiple school readiness domains, not only the health/physical domain.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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