The effect of risk factors considered together with preterm birth history on sensory and motor development in preschool children

This thesis was planned to examine the effects of risk factors seen with a history of preterm birth on sensory and motor development in preschool children. A total of 48 children, 24 with only a history of preterm birth and 24 with additional risk factors for preterm birth, were included in the study. Additional risk factors, including respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular bleeding, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing entrecolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which are common in preterm infants, were recorded. Peabody Motor Development Scale-2 was used to evaluate motor development performances and Dunn Sensory Profile was used to evaluate sensory processing. According to the results, a significant difference was found between gross motor, fine motor and total motor development scores in favor of the purely preterm group (p<0.05). According to Dunn sensory profile results, it was observed that the risky preterm group had more sensory processing problems than the only preterm group (p<0.05). These results showed that the motor and sensory development of children with additional risk factors for preterm birth was lagging behind in the preschool period. Consequently, it was found that preterm birth had negative effects on developmental areas and additional risk factors worsened this negative situation. Considering that the development in the preschool period may affect the physical, social and academic achievements of the school age, it was thought that necessary evaluations and appropriate support should be provided in order to minimize developmental delays