According to a Swedish registry-based study, neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently seen among children born extremely preterm. The study noted that 75% of children born before 24 weeks of gestation were found to have neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disabilities and autism, and needed habilitative services.

Around 88% of the children in the cohort were diagnosed with somatic disorders, such as asthma and failure to thrive/short stature.

The study included 383 infants born at a median of 23.3 weeks of gestation (range, 21.9-23.9 weeks). Around 75% of the infants had a neurodevelopmental disorder, with 52% having speech disorders, 40% having intellectual disabilities, 30% having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 24% having autism spectrum disorder, 22% having visual impairment, 17% having cerebral palsy, 10% having epilepsy, and 5% having hearing impairment.

A higher proportion of boys born at 23 weeks had intellectual disabilities (45% vs. 27%; P < .01) and visual impairment,compared to girls (25% vs. 14%; P < .01). Around 55% of the study kids had to be referred for habilitative services… (Medscape)