SENSORY PROCESSING IN PRETERM CHILDREN AT 5 YEARS OF AGE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SCHOOL READINESS

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the sensory profile of preterm children an to investigate the relationship between sensory processing and school readiness at five years of age. Methods: Seventy-six children aged 60–72 months (36 preterm children born <37 weeks of gestation and 40 age-matched term children) were enrolled in the study. Sensory processing was assessed using the Sensory Profile of Dunn, and school readiness was evaluated using the Marmara Primary School Readiness Scale. Results: Sensory processing scores of the preterm group were significantly lower than the term group (p<0.05) at five years of age. Sensory symptoms in preterm preschoolers were associated with school readiness (p<0.05). Total Sensory Profile score was a significant predictor for school readiness in preterms (p<0.05). Conclusion: Preterm children exhibited more sensory processing disorder than their term typical peers. Sensory processing disorders in preterm children may affect their school readiness at five years of age.

Keywords

• Preterm
• School readiness
• sensory processing

OKUL ÖNCESİ DÖNEMDE PRETERM ÇOCUKLARDA DUYUSAL İŞLEMLEME VE OKULA HAZIR OLUŞLA İLİŞKİSİ

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, okul öncesi dönemde preterm çocukların duyusal profilini belirlemek ve duyusal işleme ile okula hazır oluş arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktı. Yöntem: Çalışmaya 60-72 ay arası 76 çocuk (gestasyonel yaşı 37 haftadan küçük 36 preterm ve 40 term çocuk) dahil edildi. Duyusal işlemleme Dunn Duyu Profili ile değerlendirildi. Okula hazırlık durumu Marmara İlköğretim Okulu Hazır Oluş Ölçeği ile değerlendirildi. Sonuçlar: Okul öncesi dönemdeki preterm grubun duyusal işlemleme skorları term gruptan anlamlı olarak daha düşüktü (p<0,05). Preterm çocuklarda duyusal semptomlar okul hazırlığı ile ilişkiliydi (p<0,05). Total Duyu Profili skoru, pretermlerde okula hazır oluşun anlamlı bir belirleyicisiydi (p<0,05). Tartışma: Preterm çocuklar, akranlarından daha fazla duyusal semptom sergilediler. Beş yaşındaki preterm çocuklarda duyusal işlemleme bozuklukları, okula hazır olma durumlarını etkileyebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• preterm
• okula hazır oluş
• duyusal işlemleme

References

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