Cognitive and educational outcome of very-low-birthweight children in early adolescence

A cohort of 138 very-low-birthweight (VLBW) Ig-year-old children and matche d control children were assessed on objective cognitive and educational mea sures. School performance was rated by teachers and by the children themsel ves. VLBW children were shown to have lower IQ scopes, and poorer scores on all objective educational measures compared with control children, Control ling for IQ differences, mathematics and reading-comprehension scores remai ned significantly lower for VLBW children. Teachers rated VLBW children low er in all curriculum areas. Significantly more VLBW children were found to be 'failing' in one or more subject and an increased proportion compared wi th the control children had received remedial education, The VLBW group sho wed no evidence of 'catch up' between 6 and 12 years of age. Multiple regre ssion analyses were used to identify predictors of cognitive and educationa l outcome. The duration of mechanical ventilation in the neonatal period wa s inversely related to outcome. Full-Scale IQ at 6 years, motor-skills scor e at 6 years, and head circumference at la years all predicted outcome at l a years, as did maternal education, family income and size. Individually, m any VLBW children perform satisfactorily, but as a group VLBW children appe ar to be at a long-term disadvantage to peers in the areas of cognitive and educational performance.