Neuropsychological Outcomes of Preterm Triplets Discordant for Birthweight: A Case Report

Abstract

Multiple gestation is associated with a higher incidence of preterm birth and preterm birth often results in later neurocognitive and behavioral problems that persist into adulthood. The medical, neurobiological, familial, and socio-environmental factors determinant for an individual are unpredictable. We present neuropsychological data for fraternal triplets discordant for birthweight whose school-age outcome was inconsistent with the low birthweight literature and for whom neurobiological variables appeared especially pertinent. Preterm infants may achieve optimal outcomes, although etiological factors leading to such outcomes may depend heavily on care center variables that limit or avoid intracerebral and other medical complications of prematurity.

Keywords:

• Neuropsychological tests
• Premature birth
• Preterm birth
• Triplets
• Verbal fluency

Notes

*Appropriate for gestational age.

**Small for gestational age.

*Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing.

**Test of Everyday Attention for Children.

***Beery Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration.

⁺unstandardized administration of noun fluency; normative data not available (n/a).