A new study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University explored how infants delivered before their due date may struggle with focus and attention down the road. According to the findings, kids may be more likely to develop ADHD when their mothers deliver preterm.
“Teachers’ reports, in conjunction with maternal reports and physician evaluations, provide valuable input for the diagnosis of ADHD,” said researcher Nancy Reichman. “Mother-reported symptoms generally reflect behaviors in the home or some small family or social groups, while teacher-reported symptoms reflect behaviors in a structured educational setting by professionals who work with a large number of children and observe the range of behaviors the students exhibit in classrooms.”
Understanding kids’ attention struggles
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 1,400 children born between 1998 and 2000 who were enrolled in the Fragile Families Well-Being study. Over the course of nearly a decade, the researchers regularly interviewed the children’s mothers. When the children were nine, the team interviewed the children's teachers to get a sense of their behavior and academic performance.
The researchers learned that there was a link between mothers who delivered preterm and children who developed ADHD. The teachers used the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised Short Form to measure the kids’ cognitive ability and overall behavior patterns. Based on this, they noticed that kids who were delivered at full term – 39-41 weeks – had fewer behaviors related to ADHD than kids who were delivered at 37-38 weeks.
While these few weeks may not seem to make much of a difference, the researchers say they are key to development. The study showed that hyperactivity and rates of ADHD were nearly 23% and 20% higher for kids born between 37 and 38 weeks, respectively.
“Significant growth and development in various kinds of brain cells are observed between 34 and 40 weeks of gestation,” said Reichman. “Infants born at full-term likely benefit from the additional one to two weeks of brain growth in utero compared with those born early-term.”
Moving forward, the team hopes more health care providers consider these findings when consulting with women during pregnancy.
“The findings add to growing evidence supporting current recommendations for delaying elective deliveries to at least 39 weeks and suggest that regular screenings for ADHD symptoms are important for children born between 37 and 38 weeks,” Reichman said.