Preterm birth: Neuropsychological profiles and atypical developmental pathways

none3Preterm birth is characterized by multiple interacting atypical constraints affecting different aspects of neuropsychological development. In the first years of life perceptual, motor, and communicative-linguistic abilities, as well as attention, processing speed and memory are affected by preterm birth resulting in cascading effects on later development. From school age to adolescence a catch-up of simpler competencies (i.e., receptive lexicon) along with a more selective effect on more complex competencies (i.e., complex linguistic functions, math, motor and executive functions) are observed, as well as a relevant incidence of behavioral outcomes. A wide heterogeneity in preterm children’s neuropsychological profiles is described depending on the interaction among the degree of neonatal immaturity, medical complications, neurological damages/alterations, environmental and social factors. Severe neuro-motor and sensory damages are not frequent, while low severity impairments are common among preterm children. It is argued that developmental pathways of preterm children are atypical, and not merely delayed, and are characterized by different developmental patterns and relationships among competencies.The paper has been published in Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews in a Special Issue: Developmental Delay, edited by Yonata Levy, Asher Ornoy, and Yoram Nevo. Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews is edited By: MARILEE C. ALLEN and MARC YUDKOFF. Impact Factor: 4.039. ISI Journal Citation Reports © Ranking: 2011: 5/115 (Pediatrics); 28/130 (Psychiatry); 29/192 (Clinical Neurology); 61/244 (Neurosciences). Online ISSN: 1940-5529. All the papers published in this special issue have been written and accepted in 2012. The special issue was first published on line on January 2013, but is has been dated 2011 by the Publisher.mixedSansavini A.; Guarini A.; Caselli M.C.Sansavini A.; Guarini A.; Caselli M.C