Investigation of the relationship between general movements, sensory processing and neurodevelopmental parameters in premature infants

This study was aimed to (i) investigate whether there is a relationship between detailed General Movements (GMs) assessment and early sensory processing, (ii) compare the GMs assessment and sensory processing results of premature infants separated by gestational weeks, and (iii) examine the relationship between sensory processing at 24 – 36 months and neurodevelopmental results, and the GMs assessment and sensory processing at 3 – 5 months. Sixty-six premature infants included in the study were divided into three groups according to their gestational weeks as extremely preterm (≤28 weeks), very preterm (between 29 weeks to ≤32 weeks), and moderate-late preterm (between 33 weeks to <37 weeks). Premature infants were applied detailed GMs for early spontaneous movements; the Infant Sensory Profile-2 for sensory processing; the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) for neurodevelopmental assessment at corrected ages of 3 – 5 months, and the Toddler Sensory Profile-2 for sensory processing, proprioception test, and the Bayley-III for neurodevelopmental assessment at corrected ages of 24 – 36 months. There is no relationship found between the Motor Optimality Score (MOS) and its sub-categories, which obtained result from the detailed GMs assessment, and sensory processing (p>0.05). According to the infants' sensory processing assessment results at the age of 2, there was a difference between the groups in the sensitivity strategy of the quadrants (p=0.022). It was observed that premature infants with a gestational age of 32 weeks and below had a higher rate of sensory processing disorder than moderate-late premature infants. Furthermore, there was a difference between the groups in tactile sensory processing in the 2-year-old (p=0.033), and it was determined that the decrease in the gestational week increased the rate of sensory processing disorder. When looking at the relationship between the MOS and its sub-categories and sensory processing parameters results, a low correlation coefficient was found between seeking, sensitivity, visual, tactile, and motion sensory processing domains with at least one of the MOS and its subcategories (p<0.05). In conclusion, the follow-up of premature infants from the early period of life in motor development and sensory processing was found to be important. Significantly, the risk rate increases in the tactile and movement sensory processing disorder with a decrease in the gestational age. The possibility that infants with early atypical spontaneous motor development might also have sensory processing disorder should be considered.