Motor skill impairment is a common negative outcome of preterm
birth, with cerebral palsy (CP) the most severe form.1
However, many preterm children who do not develop CP still
present with impaired motor skills, similar to that observed in
developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Such impairment
is known to have a significant negative impact reaching
beyond the motor domain, with deficits commonly observed
in educational, behavioural, and social domains among children
with DCD.2–5 However, this type of impairment is often
overshadowed in the preterm population by more severe physical
and intellectual impairments. To inform surveillance and
intervention services for preterm children, we need accurate
estimates of the prevalence of motor impairment, an understanding
of the nature of this impairment, and an appreciation
of associated risk factors.