Journal
RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Volume 68, Issue -, Pages 140-152Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.06.002
Keywords
Preterm infants; Object exploration; First year of life; Fine motor abilities; Precursors of cognitive and language development
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Funding
- Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research [2008J2WEEK]
- University of Bologna [2007-STRATO7SAN]
- Cucciolo Associazione in Bologna dei Genitori dei Bambini nati pretermine (Association in Bologna of parents of preterm children)
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Although early object exploration is considered a key ability for subsequent achievements, very few studies have analyzed its development in extremely low gestational age infants (ELGA-GA < 28 weeks), whose early motor skills are delayed. Moreover, no studies have examined its developmental relationship with cognitive and language skills. The present study examined developmental change in Motor Object Exploration (MOE) and different types of MOE (Holding, Oral, Manual and Manual Rhythmic Exploration) in 20 ELGA and 20 full term (FT) infants observed during mother-infant play interaction at 6 and 9 months. It also explored whether specific types of MOE were longitudinally related to 24-month language and cognitive abilities (GMDS-R scores). ELGA infants increased MOE duration from 6 to 9 months, eliminating the initial difference with FT infants. In addition, ELGA infants showed a different pattern of Oral Exploration, that did not increase at 6 months and decrease at 9 months. Oral and Manual Exploration durations at 6 months were longitudinally related to 24-month GMDS-R language and cognitive performance scores respectively. We discuss the relevance of assessing early exploratory abilities in ELGA infants in order to implement customized intervention programs for supporting the development of these skills.
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