Attention profiles following preterm birth: A review of methods and findings from infancy to adulthood

Abstract

Children born preterm are at increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and subclinical attention problems. The ADHD profile that presents following prematurity has been characterized by inattention without impulsivity or hyperactivity. This supports the existence of a preterm attentional phenotype. This review aims to examine the preterm attentional profile regarding three attention networks: alerting, orienting, and executive attention, and to survey the methods used for measuring attention networks. We conclude that prematurity is associated with impairments in the attention networks, but a robust and detailed articulation of a distinctive preterm attention phenotype cannot be ascertained from the available data. Future research should focus on addressing methodological challenges associated with measuring attention, protocol harmonization, open data sharing, and longitudinal studies utilizing a variety of measurement types. Delineating the developmental trajectory of attention will improve understanding of the pathway from prematurity to attentional problems including ADHD and guide interventions.