Executive function of children with extremely low birthweight: a case control study

This study examines the executive function (EF) skills of extremely-low-bir thweight (ELBW) children at school compared with their peers. Thirty childr en with ELBW and 50 control children (both with a mean age of 62 +/- 4 mont hs) were administered tests of EF including the Tower of Hanoi task, Finger Sequencing task, and Tapping Test. Children with ELBW, including those who scored more than 1 SD below the mean on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Tes t Revised. scored significantly lower than their peers on all executive tas ks. There was limited correlation between EF and previous general quotient index scores obtained at routine Method assessment using the McCarthy Scale s of General ability at 4 years of age for the children with ELBW, Results suggest that children with ELBW are at risk for deficits in 'executive' beh aviours including planning, sequencing, and inhibition which may have impli cations for later learning.