The preschool children born very low birth weight(VLBW) still have executive functions(EFs) deficits even with normal early development(Ni, Huang, & Guo, 2011). Consequently, early intervention might be more important than expected. This study aims to investigate the follow-up outcome of the therapeutic effects of integrative neuropsychological training model(INTM) focused on EFs for school-age VLBW children with EFs deficits.

The VLBW children, recruited from the Regional Cohort Network for premature infants who were admitted to neonatal intensive care units, had normal scores in Bayley and Wechsler Intelligence systems before 6 years old. They also received follow-up neuropsychological assessment for EFs at 6 or 8-year-old. The deficits of EFs were defined from the result of Digit Span Subtest of WISC-IV, Knox's Cube Test(KCT), Tower of London(ToL), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST), and Comprehensive Nonverbal Attention Test Battery(CNAT). A total of 8 VLBW children with EFs deficits were recruited and received EFs training at 6 or 8-year-old. The INTM combined with Comprehensive Memory Training System(CMTS), Executive FUNction Training(EFT), and multi-ecological materials focused on enhancing the four aspects of EFs, including working memory, planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition ability. Then, they received follow-up neuropsychological assessment for EFs at 8 or 10-year-old.

The results showed that all children got benefits from 20 hours of INTM and most of the EF aspects remained improved at follow-up. A total of 8 VLBW children with an average of 3.4 aspects EFs deficits had an average of 1.4 aspects of EFs deficits left at the follow-up. More precisely, 5 of them had 1 aspects of EFs deficits and 3 of them had 2 aspects of EFs deficits.

This study revealed that such a short-term INTM had long-term effects in enhancing the EFs of those VLBW children who had normal early development but later grew into EFs deficits at school-age. Besides, their EFs are still improving even after two years of intervention. Further study on more subjects with longer follow-up might help VLBW children to achieve better neuropsychological function.