National Project for Early Screening and Care of 5-Year-Old Children Born Prematurely Focused on Detecting Developmental Issues and Preventing Health Complications

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a national, prospective, multicenter pilot project focused on the follow-up of children who were born prematurely and are now 5 years old. The goal is to develop and test a national method for caring for these children to reduce negative effects on their overall development and support their families. This project aims to create a validated screening process to monitor developmental abnormalities in these children at age 5. The evaluation includes a comprehensive pediatric check-up covering vision screening, speech and language tests, psychological assessments, motor skill evaluations, and lung function tests. Children showing any concerns during these assessments are referred to appropriate specialists such as rehabilitation physicians, speech therapists, psychiatrists, or ophthalmologists. The study involves about 210 children from several perinatal and intermediate centers. During the study, participants will undergo assessments over a period of up to 3 days, including pediatric exams and various developmental tests. Researchers will measure how many children have identified developmental pathologies and how many require specialist referral. This follow-up aims to detect and address health complications early, benefiting both the children and their families. The project is supported by national and European funding and has ethical approval at multiple levels.

Early Detection of Developmental Abnormalities of Preterm Infants at 5 Years of Age