| Sumario: | Minor neurological dysfunction (MND) has been associated with learning, cognitive, and motor problems in preterm children. This study aims to study the prevalence of MND in preterm children without cerebral palsy in the preschool period and to investigate its association with school readiness. Forty-four children born at less than 37 weeks of gestation and 35 term children at a mean age of 5 years 6 months were included in the study. MND was classified according to Touwen. School readiness was assessed with the Marmara Primary School Readiness Scale. The prevalence of MND in preterm preschoolers was higher compared to their term-peers. Linear regression analyses showed that MND was the strongest predictor of school readiness in the preterm group. Preterm children, in the absence of CP, are at risk of MND and this is associated with school readiness. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the follow-up, and an intervention should be prepared for preterm children with MND when they are starting school.
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