Leicester academic discusses the problems facing preterm babies
Dr Samantha Johnson, from the Department of Health Sciences, discussed the long-term development of extremely preterm babies on BBC Inside Out East Midlands on Monday 6 March.
Dr Johnson (pictured) explained that the most common difficulties extremely preterm babies are likely to face as they get older are in the areas of cognition.
Babies born extremely preterm are at high risk for difficulties with problem solving and attention as well as social and emotional problems.
These challenges are likely to have a major impact on how children perform at school.
Dr Johnson, a developmental psychologist in the University’s Department of Health Sciences, conducts research into the cognitive, educational and psychological outcomes following preterm birth.
Dr Johnson is also part of The Infant Mortality and Morbidity Studies (TIMMS) research group, a collaborative multi-disciplinary group of researchers investigating mortality and disease during pregnancy, infancy and childhood in order to influence policy, education and clinical practice.