Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T22:04:29.108Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neuropsychological Functioning in Preterm-Born Twins and Singletons at Preschool Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2016

Sarah Raz ,
Jamie C. Piercy ,
Andrew M. Heitzer ,
Brittany N. Peters ,
Julie Bapp Newman ,
Angela K. DeBastos ,
Noa Ofen ,
Beau Batton  and
Daniel G. Batton
Sarah Raz*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Jamie C. Piercy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Andrew M. Heitzer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Brittany N. Peters
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Julie Bapp Newman
Affiliation:
Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
Angela K. DeBastos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Noa Ofen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan The Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Beau Batton
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
Daniel G. Batton
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Sarah Raz, Developmental Neuropsychology Laboratory, the Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, 71 E. Ferry, Detroit, MI 48202. E-mail: sarahraz@wayne.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: A limited body of research is available on the relationships between multiplicity of birth and neuropsychological functioning in preterm children who were conceived in the age of assisted reproductive technology and served by the modern neonatal intensive care unit. Our chief objective was to evaluate whether, after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and perinatal complications, twin birth accounted for a unique portion of developmental outcome variance in children born at-risk in the surfactant era. Methods: We compared the neuropsychological functioning of 77 twins and 144 singletons born preterm (<34 gestational weeks) and served by William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI. Children were evaluated at preschool age, using standardized tests of memory, language, perceptual, and motor abilities. Results: Multiple regression analyses, adjusting for sociodemographic and perinatal variables, revealed no differences on memory or motor indices between preterm twins and their singleton counterparts. In contrast, performance of language and visual processing tasks was significantly lower in twins despite reduced perinatal risk in comparison to singletons. Effect sizes ranged from .33 to .38 standard deviations for global language and visual processing ability indices, respectively. No significant group by sex interactions were observed, and comparison of first-, or second-born twins with singletons yielded medium effect sizes (Cohen’s d=.56 and .40, respectively). Conclusions: The modest twin disadvantage on language and visual processing tasks at preschool-age could not be readily attributable to socioeconomic or perinatal variables. The possibility of biological or social twinning-related phenomena as mechanisms underlying the observed performance gaps are discussed. (JINS, 2016, 22, 865–877)

Keywords

Neonatal prematurityBirth weightBirth orderLanguage developmentVisual perceptionMotor skills
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 22 , Issue 9 , October 2016 , pp. 865 - 877
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arnold, C., McLean, F.H., Kramer, M.S., & Usher, R.H. (1987). Respiratory distress syndrome In second-born versus first-born twins. A matched case-control analysis. New England Journal of Medicine, 317, 1121–1125.Google Scholar
Armson, B.A., O’Connell, C., Persad, V., Joseph, K.S., Young, D.C., & Baskett, T.F. (2006). Determinants of perinatal mortality and serious neonatal morbidity in the second twin. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 108, 556–564.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Asztalos, E., Barrett, J.F.R., Lacy, M., & Luther, M. (2001). Evaluating 2 year outcome in twins ≤ 30 weeks gestational at birth: A regional perinatal unit’s experience. Twin Research, 4, 431–438.Google Scholar
Batton, D.G., DeWitte, D.B., & Pryce, C.J. (2011). One hundred consecutive infants born at 23 weeks and resuscitated. American Journal of Perinatology, 28, 299–304. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1268714 Google Scholar
Bodeau-Livinec, F., Zeitlin, J., Blondel, B., Arnaud, C., Fresson, J., & Burguet, A., . . . the EPIPAGE group. (2013). Do very preterm twins and singletons differ in their neurodevelopment at 5 years of age? Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal Neonatal Edition, 98, F480–F487. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2013-303737 Google Scholar
Einaudi, M.A., Busuttil, M., Monnier, A.-S., Chanus, I., Palix, C., & Gire, C. (2008). Neuropsychological screening of a group of preterm twins: Comparison with singletons. Child’s Nervous System, 24, 225–230. doi:10.1007/s00381-007-0422-6 Google Scholar
Eras, Z., Ozyurt, B.M., Kanmaz, G., Erdeve, O., Sakrucu, E.D., Oguz, S.S., & Dilmen, U. (2013). Twin Research and Human Genetics, 16, 614–618. doi:10.1017/thg.2012.155 Google Scholar
ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. (2000). Multiple gestation pregnancy. Human Reproduction, 15, 1856–1864.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonzalez-Mesa, E., Cazorla-Granados, O., & Gonzalez-Valenzuela, M.J. (2016). The influence of obstetric variables on school achievement, intelligence and neuropsychological development in a sample of Spanish twins at the age of six: A retrospective study. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 29(10), 1595–1602.Google Scholar
Gucuyener, K., Arhan, E., Soysal, A.S., Ergenekon, E., Turan, O., Onal, E., & Atalay, Y. (2011). Language assessment of non-handicapped twins at 5 years of age. Pediatrics International, 53, 944–949.Google Scholar
Hacking, D., Watkins, A., Fraser, S., Wolfe, R., & Nolan, T. (2001). Respiratory distress syndrome and birth order in premature twins. Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 84, F117–F121. doi:10.1136/fn.84.2.F117 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hajnal, B.L., Braun-Fahrlander, C., von Siebenthal, K., Bucher, H.U., & Largo, R.H. (2005). Improved outcome for very low birth weight multiple births. Pediatric Neurology, 32, 87–93. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2004.09.004 Google Scholar
Hollingshead, A.B. (1975). A four factor index of social status. Unpublished working paper. New Haven, CT: Department of Sociology, Yale University.Google Scholar
Jobe, A.H., & Bancalari, E. (2001). Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, 163, 1723–1729. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.163.7.2011060 Google Scholar
Kaufman, A.S. (1983). Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC). Circles Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.Google Scholar
Kramer, M.S., Platt, R.W., Wen, S.W., Joseph, K.S., Allen, A., Abrahamowicz, M., & Breart, G. (2001). A new and improved population-based Canadian reference for birth weight for gestational age. Pediatrics, 108, E35. doi:10.1542/peds.108.2.e35 Google Scholar
Kyriakidou, M., Karagianni, P., & Iliodromiti, Z. (2013). Comparison of 24 months neurodevelopmental outcome in twins and singletons ≤ 34 weeks gestation at birth. Journal of Pediatric and Neonatal Individualized Medicine (JPNIM), 2, 48–54. doi:10.7363/020101 Google Scholar
Lee, S.M., Park, J.S., Norwitz, E.R., Kim, S.M., Lee, J., Park, C.-W., & Jun, J.K. (2015). Presenting twins are exposed to higher levels of inflammatory mediators than nonpresenting twins as early as the midtrimester of pregnancy. PLoS One, 10(6), e0125346. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125346 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lorenz, J.M. (2012). Neurodevelopmental outcomes of twins. Seminars in Perinatology, 36, 201–201. doi:10.1053/j.semperi.2012.02.005 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manuck, T.A., Sheng, X., Yoder, B.A., & Varner, M.W. (2014). Correlation between initial neonatal and early childhood outcomes following preterm birth. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210, 426.e1–e9. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.046 Google Scholar
Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., & Osterman, M.J. (2012). Three decades of twin births in the United States, 1980–2009. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, 80, 1–8.Google Scholar
Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Ventura, S.J., Osterman, M.J.K., Wilson, E.C., & Mathews, T.J. (2012). Births: Final data for 2010. National Vital Statistics Reports, 61, 1–72.Google Scholar
Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Ventura, S.J., Osterman, M.J.K., & Mathews, T.J. (2013). Births: Final data for 2011. National Vital Statistical Reports, 62, 1–70.Google Scholar
Mizrahi, M., Furman, B., Shoham-Vardi, I., Vardi, H., Maymon, E., & Mazor, M. (1999). European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, 87, 55–61.Google Scholar
Moldenhauer, J.S., & Johnson, M.P. (2015). Diagnosis and management of complicated monochorionic twins. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 58, 632–642. doi:10.1097/GRF.0000000000000127 Google Scholar
Papiernik, E., Zeitlin, J., Delmas, D., Blondel, B., Kunzel, W., Cuttini, M., & Draper, E.S., MOSAIC Group. (2010). Differences in outcome between twins and singletons born very preterm: results from a population-based European cohort. Human Reproduction, 25, 1035–1043. doi:10.1093/humrep/dep430 Google Scholar
Rychik, J., Tian, Z., Bebbington, M., Xu, F., McCann, M., Mann, S., & Johnson, (2007). The twin-twin transfusion syndrome: spectrum of cardiovascular abnormality and development of a cardiovascular score to assess severity of disease. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 197, 392.e1–8.Google Scholar
Rysavy, M.A., Li, L., Bell, E.F., Das, A., Hintz, S.R., Stoll, B.J., & Higgins, R. (2015). Between hospital variation in treatment and outcomes in extremely preterm infants. New England Journal of Medicine, 19, 1801–1811. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1410689 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schrank, F.A. (2011). Woodcock-Johnson III tests of cognitive abilities. In A.S. Davis (Ed.), Handbook of pediatric neuropsychology (pp. 415–434). New York: Springer Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Smith, L.K., Manktelow, B.N., Draper, E.S., Boyle, E.M., Johnson, S.J., & Field, D.J. (2014). Trends in the incidence and mortality of multiple births by socioeconomic deprivation and maternal age in England: population-based cohort study. BMJ Open, 3(4), e004514. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004514 Google Scholar
Stolt, S., Matomaki, J., Lind, A., Lapinleimu, H., Haataja, L., & Lehtonen, L. (2014). The prevalence and predictive value of weak language skills in children born with very low birth weight – a longitudinal study. Acta Paediatrica, 103, 651–658. doi:10.1111/apa.12607 Google Scholar
Stromwold, K. (2006). Genetic, prenatal and postnatal factors. Cognition, 101, 333–384. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2006.04.007 Google Scholar
Sunderam, S., Kissin, D.M., Crawford, S.B., Folger, S.G., Jamieson, D.J., Warner, L., & Barfield, W.D. (2015). Assisted reproductive technology surveillance-United States, 2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary, 64, 1–29.Google ScholarPubMed
Thorpe, K. (2006). Twin children’s language development. Early Human Development, 82, 387–395.Google Scholar
Voracek, M., & Haubner, T. (2008). Twin-singleton differences in intelligence: A meta-analysis. Psychological Reports, 102, 951–962. doi:10.2466/pr0.102.3.951-962 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wadhawan, R., Oh, W., Perritt, R.L., McDonald, S.A., Das, A., Poole, W.K., & Higgins, R.D. (2009). Twin gestation and neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low birth weight infants. Pediatrics, 123, e220–e227. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-1126 Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1997). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 3rd edition. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Woodcock, R.W., McGrew, K.S., & Mather, N. (2001). Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities (WJ III). Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside Publishing.Google Scholar
Yeung, E.H., Sundaram, R., Bell, E.M., Druschel, C., Kus, C., Ghassabian, A., & Buck Louis, G.M. (2016). Examining infertility treatment and early childhood development in the Upstate KIDS Study. Journal of the American Medical Association: JAMA Pediatrics, 170, 251–258. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.4164 Google Scholar
Zimmerman, I. L., Steiner, V. G., & Pond, R. E. (1992). Preschool Language Scale - 3rd Edition. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Zork, N., Biggio, J., Tita, A., Rouse, D., & Gyamfi-Bannerman, C. (2013). Decreasing prematurity in twin gestations: Predicaments and possibilities. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 122, 375–379. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e31829b2dba Google Scholar