PSY2071 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Implicit Learning, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Cogmed
27 Aug 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
WEEK 7
Preterm births
• Annual birth rate = 300,000
• Preterm before 37 weeks = 22,500 (7.5%)
• Late preterm (32-36 wks) = 18,000 (6%)
• Very preterm (>32 wks) = 4,500 (1.5%)
• Extremely preterm (>28 wks) = 2,500 (0.8%)
• Full term = 37 wks
• Less preterm a baby is, the more likely they will survive. If they survive one extra
week, they could have a higher chance of surviving
• 1% of children are born with blindness and 2% are deaf
• 12% of preterm kids will have cerebral palsy and sensory outcomes include
blindness and deafness
• Cognitive consequences = general intelligence, language, attention, memory,
executive function
o Academic difficulties, repeat school years, spelling problems, learning
problems, math problems
• Psychopathology outcomes = behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, adhd (3x
more likely), autism (4x more likely)
• Small percentage have severe developmental challenges; many experience subtle
learning and motor problems; pattern of difficulties differ
• Parents become depressed for those with very pre term infant
• Maternal depression/anxiety post discharge = 15-20% of these moms are still
depressed after a year their child gets discharged. 20-30% still have anxiety after
12 months of discharge
Cochrane review
• Aim = determine the effect of early developmental intervention programs post
discharge from hospital for preterm infants on cognitive and motor outcome
• Methods
o Random or quasi random allocation
o Born at less than 37 weeks
o Types of intervention
• Early intervention that aimed to improve motor or cognitive outcomes
• Commenced within the first 12 months of life
• Commenced before or after discharge
• Carried out by health or educational professionals
o Types of outcome measures
• Cognitive/motor outcomes at infant, preschool or school age
VIBeS Plus Program
• Standardized intervention package
• Generic content with aspects of the intervention individualize
• Folder for handouts on key issues
• Success of strategy at next visit
• Summary = parents in the intervention group = fewer depression and anxiety
symptoms
• Children in intervention group = fewer emotional and behavioral problems at age 2
and 4 years
• Mean = 0.27 SD improvement in cognitive development at two years' corrected
age
Clinical implications and future research
• Early intervention is beneficial for children born preterm and their families
• Commence intervention asap
• Content of intervention should involve parents and families
