The aim of the present study was to investigate in moderately preterm children of preschool age, the presence of precursors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The study involved a group of 50 children (age M = 5 years and 2 months, sd = 4 months) moderately preterm (Gestational Age M = 34 weeks, sd = 2 weeks) without neonatal medic complications (without need for neonatal intensive care and without dysmaturity or congenital malformations) and low birth weight (birth weigh M = 2100 g., sd = 350 g.) and 50 children born to term without neonatal medic complications (Gestational Age M = 40 weeks). Specific Italian questionnaires (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Early Detection for Teachers - IPDDAI; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Early Detection for Parents- IPDDAG) about inattention and hyperactivity have been administered to teachers and parents of child involved in the research. The results show that the moderately preterm children preschool-aged, identified by the study, compared with full-term children, are characterized by a risk profile of precursors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Keywords: Precursors of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, moderately preterm birth, preschool age.