Tinka Bröring1, Marsh Königs2, Kim J Oostrom3, Harrie N Lafeber4, Anniek Brugman5, Jaap Oosterlaan6. 1. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, de Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.broring@vumc.nl. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.konigs@amc.uva.nl. 3. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, de Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Psychosocial Department, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: k.j.oostrom@amc.uva.nl. 4. Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hn.lafeber@vumc.nl. 5. Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, de Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Clinical Neuropsychology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, van der Boechorstraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.oosterlaan@amc.uva.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Very preterm birth has a detrimental impact on the developing brain, including widespread white matter brain abnormalities that threaten efficient sensory processing. Yet, sensory processing difficulties in very preterm children are scarcely studied, especially at school age. AIMS: To investigate somatosensory registration, multisensory integration and sensory modulation. PARTICIPANTS: 57 very preterm school-age children (mean age=9.2years) were compared to 56 gender and age matched full-term children. METHODS: Group differences on somatosensory registration tasks (Registration of Light Touch, Sensory Discrimination of Touch, Position Sense, Graphestesia), a computerized multisensory integration task, and the parent-reported Sensory Profile were investigated using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: In comparison to full-term children, very preterm children are less accurate on somatosensory registration tasks, including Registration of Light Touch (d=0.34), Position Sense (d=0.31) and Graphestesia (d=0.42) and show more sensory modulation difficulties (d=0.41), including both behavioral hyporesponsivity (d=0.52) and hyperresponsivity (d=0.56) to sensory stimuli. Tactile discrimination and multisensory integration efficiency were not affected in very preterm children. Aspects of sensory processing were only modestly related. CONCLUSION: Very preterm children show sensory processing difficulties regarding somatosensory registration and sensory modulation, and preserved multisensory (audio-visual) integration. Follow-up care for very preterm children should involve screening of sensory processing difficulties at least up to school age.
BACKGROUND: Very preterm birth has a detrimental impact on the developing brain, including widespread white matter brain abnormalities that threaten efficient sensory processing. Yet, sensory processing difficulties in very preterm children are scarcely studied, especially at school age. AIMS: To investigate somatosensory registration, multisensory integration and sensory modulation. PARTICIPANTS: 57 very preterm school-age children (mean age=9.2years) were compared to 56 gender and age matched full-term children. METHODS: Group differences on somatosensory registration tasks (Registration of Light Touch, Sensory Discrimination of Touch, Position Sense, Graphestesia), a computerized multisensory integration task, and the parent-reported Sensory Profile were investigated using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: In comparison to full-term children, very preterm children are less accurate on somatosensory registration tasks, including Registration of Light Touch (d=0.34), Position Sense (d=0.31) and Graphestesia (d=0.42) and show more sensory modulation difficulties (d=0.41), including both behavioral hyporesponsivity (d=0.52) and hyperresponsivity (d=0.56) to sensory stimuli. Tactile discrimination and multisensory integration efficiency were not affected in very preterm children. Aspects of sensory processing were only modestly related. CONCLUSION: Very preterm children show sensory processing difficulties regarding somatosensory registration and sensory modulation, and preserved multisensory (audio-visual) integration. Follow-up care for very preterm children should involve screening of sensory processing difficulties at least up to school age.
Authors: Marliese Dion Nist; Rita H Pickler; Tondi M Harrison; Deborah K Steward; Abigail B Shoben Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2020-05-22 Impact factor: 2.079
Authors: Agnieszka Ptak; Diana Miękczyńska; Agnieszka Dębiec-Bąk; Małgorzata Stefańska Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-04 Impact factor: 4.614