School-aged children born preterm: review of functioning across multiple domains and guidelines for assessment

Abstract

Children born preterm are at risk for developmental deficits across multiple functional domains. As the rate of survival for preterm infants increases due to medical advancements, a greater understanding is needed for how to meet the needs of this growing population in schools. Because approximately 50–70% of children born preterm require additional services in school, evidence-based assessments that appropriately identify children and guide intervention strategies must be conducted. In addition, the education system must be prepared to provide appropriate support when these children encounter developmental, cognitive, and academic difficulties in the school setting. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the research on children born preterm and delineate guidelines for assessment in the areas of cognitive, academic, and psychosocial functioning.

Keywords::

• preterm infants
• assessment
• psychosocial outcomes
• cognitive outcomes