The motor development of preterm infants after the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

The extra uterine environment is a hostile environment, due to noises, lights and different biological activities compared to intra uterine environment for infants born preterm or underweight. Stress and painful experiences may also impact developmental outcomes. In addition, developmental delay risks increase with the decrease in gestational age. Thus, those born with immature developed systems may need neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in order to allow a correct growth and body maturation. In general, infants that need NICUs suffer from a slower development compared to their full-term peers. This may translate in a delay in oral, tactile, kinesthetic, vestibular, auditory, olfactory, and visual sensory systems resulting in a slower cognitive and motor development. The aim of this work will focus on motor development during NICU and after hospital discharge, and will elucidate the role of neonatal intensive care units for future motor development in preterm infants.