Neuromotor behavioural assessment of preterm infants at risk for impaired development

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a new neuromotor behavioural assessment in identifying preterm infants whose development was potentially at risk as a result of their early birth and immediate postnatal experiences. All infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation or who weighed less than 1000g at birth and cared for in the Mater Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Brisbane over a two year period were included in the study. Infants were assessed in their third week of life and again at 36 weeks gestational equivalent age, or prior to discharge, whichever occurred sooner. Results indicate that the assessment is effective in differentiating those infants who suffered from adverse neonatal events from those who did not, when assessed between 30 and 36 weeks gestational equivalent age. The assessment did not prove useful for infants of less than 30 or greater than 36 weeks gestational equivalent age.