Mental and Motor Development of Children with Preterm Birth and Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Children with preterm birth (PTB), particularly if medical complications after birth are recorded, are at risk of developmental handicaps. More than half of the children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are born preterm. Methods: Using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development - Second Edition, we assessed the mental (MDI) and psychomotor development (PDI) of children with PTB and children with FAS. PTB children without (PTB_c-, N=31) and with (PTB_c+, N=17) medical complications as well as children with FAS (N=30; N=10 preterm, N=14 in term; N=6 not known) were tested at the age of 2 years (PTB: M=25 months, SD=3 months; FAS: M=27 months, SD=6 months). Results: PTBc+ (MDI=85; PDI=80) as well as FAS (MDI=79; PDI=80) children show a poorer mental and motor development than PTBc- (MDI=99; PDI=92) children. FAS children with PTB show a significantly higher mental development (MDI=84) than FAS children born in term (MDI=75), while there are no differences concerning their motor development (PDI=79 in both groups). Discussion: The results demonstrate that children with FAS are as developmental delayed as PTBc+children. PTB itself, although frequently occurring in FAS, seems not to exacerbate the mental or motor development deficits in children with FAS. Quite the contrary, developmental delay in FAS children seems to be positively moderated by PTB, as being born preterm is cutting short the noxious intrauterine alcohol exposition of the child.