CROSS–SECTIONAL STUDY– CHILDREN BORN PRETERM GREATER RISK OF ABNORMAL VISUAL AND NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

DR. SUBHASH KUMAR MISHRA; DR. ANAND SAXENA; DR. NEERJA SAXENA; DR. MEEKSHI MASEEH; DR. MONEESH SAXENA

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

CROSS–SECTIONAL STUDY– CHILDREN BORN PRETERM GREATER RISK OF ABNORMAL VISUAL AND NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

Dr. Subhash Kumar Mishra, Dr. Anand Saxena, Dr. Neerja Saxena, Dr. Meekshi Maseeh, Dr. Moneesh Saxena

Abstract :

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: To examine and see the abnormal visual and neurological functioning in preterm children. Sample for the study includes 120 preterm children (boys 74 (62%) and girls 46 (38%) between the age group of 8 to 12 months were recruited based on random sampling from Raipur from August 2017 to Feuary 2019 (18 months) RESULTS: On Bayley Developmental Screening Scale –III, Cognition scale preterm babies scored low mean 30.43 std. deviation 18.375, t value 18.138, Language (Receptive and Expressive) scale preterm babies scored low, mean 39.11, std. deviation 23.912, t value 17.916, Motor (Fine /Gross) scale preterm babies scored low, mean 42.12 std. deviation 23.341, t value 19.766 are statistically significant at the level of <0.05. Major visual problems that are common in babies under age of 4 to 5 years cortical visual impairment is more prevalent among preterm babies, An Analysis of variance showed on strabismus (crossed eyes), mean score is .29, Std. deviation .042 and t– value 7.000. Nystagmus, mean score is .21, Std. deviation .408 and t– value 5.596, Amblyopia (known as "lazy eye") means score is .55, Std. deviation .500 and t– value 12.060 are statistically significant at < 0.05 level. CONCLUSIONS: Children born preterm are at a greater risk of abnormal visual and neurological functioning when compared to children born at full term, Visual functions associated with the visual processing stream such as global motion perception and visual–motor integration, impaired by preterm birth. These visual impairments contribute to the difficulties in learning, attention, behaviour, speech and cognition. Improvements in understanding the human mechanisms by which preterm babies affected. Improvement in understanding of underlying issues will inform future screening and interventions for deficits in these areas.