A recent research has shown that even though children who are extremely underweight at birth are at increased risk of developmental problems, such children feel no different from their peers when they reach the teen years. Their parents, on the other hand, report that their children do lag behind other teens in some areas.
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Teens who had been underweight were no more likely than other teens to report symptoms of ADHD or depression. Compared to other parents, mothers and fathers of premature babies rated their teens as clumsier than average and having poor athletic skills. When the teenagers were asked to rate their athletic ability and behaviour at school, the kids born prematurely saw themselves as no different from their peers. They were just as likely as other young people to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, music and other hobbies. These teens also did not think that their relationships with teachers and friends were any different than other teens. According to the researchers, socio-economic status and family support probably makes a big difference in helping these children develop a belief that they are no different from their peers despite their learning disabilities. None of the children in the study were from underprivileged households. The researchers plan to follow these teens into adulthood to study how they succeed in their relationships and careers.
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