Neurodevelopmental Outcomes and Predictors Among Late Pre-Term Infants: A 6-Month Cohort Study

Background Late preterm infants (33–36 weeks gestation) are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental delays, yet early identification is often missed due to irregular follow-up and subtle symptom presentation. Trivandrum Developmental Screening Tool (TDST) to assess neurodevelopmental status to identify impairments of child. Objective To identify neurodevelopmental delays in late preterm infants and track their developmental progress at 3 and 6 months of corrected age using the TDST, with inputs from both therapists and parents. Methods 60 late pre-term infants were identified and were screened using the TDST at the time of discharge, 3rd month, and 6th month. Both therapists and parents independently scored the infant’s milestone performance using the TDST. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and linear regression to explore differences in identifying milestone predictors. Results The findings underscore the importance of consistent parental education in enhancing early intervention and monitoring. Therapists scored higher than parents at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.0002, p = 0.000). Despite increased awareness, parents underreported key motor milestones, such as rolling, turning to sound, and object transfer (r = 0.542 at 6 months). Conclusion Parents struggle to recognize complex motor skills, despite no significant differences from therapists at 3 months. By 6 months, significant discrepancies emerged, highlighting the need for early, structured parental education and consistent developmental follow-up in late preterm infants.