EFFECT OF INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION (IUGR) ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF PRETERM CHILDREN AT PRESCHOOL AGE

Abstract

The present paper forms part of a larger prospective study and reports on the psychological performance of preterm children (n = 68) and fullterm control children (n = 36) at preschool age. Intelligence quotients (IQs) of intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) preterm children were lower than those of appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) preterm children or fullterm controls at preschool age. Specific deficiencies (visuomotor, language) were found in 30% of the IUGR group and in 9% of the AGA group. When measuring general intellectual capacity, specific areas of intellectual function should be included by means of appropriate psychological tests, because a child may have a normal IQ but still show specific deficiencies.