Do moderate-to-late preterm twins and singletons differ in the early motor repertoire and later developmental functioning?

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in early motor repertoire and later developmental functioning between moderate-to-late preterm twins and singletons. Material and Methods: The study included 40 moderate-to-late preterm twin infants (50% female), and 40 moderate-to-late preterm singleton infants (50% female). All infants were assessed from 9 up to 20 post-term weeks of corrected age using the General Movement Assessment (GMA), and between 24 and 42 months of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). Results: There were no differences between the Motor Optimality Score (MOS) and its subcategories, including fidgety movements, obtained as a result of detailed GMA (p>0.05), when the early motor repertoire results were examined. At later ages, there were also no significant differences in cognitive, language, and motor domain composite scores between twin and singleton infants, according to Bayley-III (p>0.05). Discussion: Our results suggest moderate-to-late preterm twin infants had a similar developmental process to moderate-to-late preterm singleton infants from early periods up to 3.5 years of age. However, all preterm infants, including moderate-to-late infants, should be assessed in the clinic in terms of the risks of developmental problems from the early period of life.