Birth size may predict future academic success
A Norwegian study indicates that birth size at delivery influences future academic performance. Over 92,000 children born smaller than expected show lower scores in reading and mathematics skills between ages 10 and 15. Children born between weeks 37 and 41 of pregnancy, especially those of small size, experience differences in test results. The gaps are larger at early ages but tend to decrease as they grow. However, children born unusually small continue to perform worse in school tests into adolescence, particularly in mathematics, where they score about 2.3 points lower than children of typical size. This is often attributed to pre-birth growth issues, such as placental problems or nutritional deficiencies. The research suggests that birth size could serve as an indicator of children’s educational needs and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and supporting children who are born small for their age after birth.
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