1. Poor attention rather than hyperactivity/impulsivity predicts academic achievement in very preterm and full-term adolescents.
- Author
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Jaekel, J., Wolke, D., and Bartmann, P.
- Subjects
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ACADEMIC achievement , *ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder , *BIRTH size , *CHI-squared test , *CHILD Behavior Checklist , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *EPIDEMIOLOGY , *PREMATURE infants , *INTELLECT , *LONGITUDINAL method , *EVALUATION of medical care , *RESEARCH funding , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *VIDEO recording , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software - Abstract
BackgroundVery preterm (VP) children are at particular risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of the inattentive subtype. It is unknown whether the neurodevelopmental pathways to academic underachievement are the same as in the general population. This study investigated whether middle childhood attention or hyperactivity/impulsivity problems are better predictors of VP adolescents' academic achievement.MethodIn a geographically defined prospective whole-population sample of VP (<32 weeks gestation) and/or very low birth weight (<1500 g birth weight) (VLBW/VP; n = 281) and full-term control children (n = 286) in South Germany, ADHD subtypes were assessed at 6 years 3 months and 8 years 5 months using multiple data sources. Academic achievement was assessed at 13 years of age.ResultsCompared with full-term controls, VLBW/VP children were at higher risk for ADHD inattentive subtype [6 years 3 months: odds ratio (OR) 2.8, p < 0.001; 8 years 5 months: OR 1.7, p = 0.020] but not for ADHD hyperactive-impulsive subtype (6 years 3 months: OR 1.4, p = 0.396; 8 years 5 months: OR 0.9, p = 0.820). Childhood attention measures predicted academic achievement in VLBW/VP and also full-term adolescents, whereas hyperactive/impulsive behaviour did not.ConclusionsAttention is an important prerequisite for learning and predicts long-term academic underachievement. As ADHD inattentive subtype and cognitive impairments are frequent in VLBW/VP children, their study may help to identify the neurofunctional pathways from early brain development and dysfunction to attention problems and academic underachievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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