Sensory Processing and Perceptual Alterations in Children Born Preterm: A Scoping Review

Background and objectives: Children born prematurely are more likely to have altered sensory profiles, which can affect family and school functioning. This scoping review aimed to analyze the relationship between prematurity and the development of atypical sensory profiles. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), including studies evaluating children aged 1 to 12 years who were born at a gestational age of ≤32 weeks. The data sources were PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search was limited to English-language studies published in the previous 10 years. The keywords “Sensory Processing”, “Child Development”, “Perception”, “Sensory Profile”, “Sensory Integration”, “Preterm”, “Infant Premature”, “Infant Extremely Low Birth Weight”, and “Infant Low Birth Weight” were used to search the databases. Articles with outcomes related to cerebral palsy, blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, behavioral disorders, and autism were excluded. After article selection, the atypical sensory profiles identified were organized into thematic categories and evaluated according to frequency of occurrence. Results: Seven articles were included and showed frequent atypical sensory profiles in very preterm children, especially in sensory processing, particularly hyporesponsiveness, and visual perception. Conclusions: These findings indicate altered sensory performance among very preterm children, which may negatively affect motor, cognitive, and behavioral development. Early sensory screening may improve detection and guide interventions to minimize adverse developmental outcomes.