Pune low birth weight study--cognitive abilities and educational performance at twelve years

To assess the intelligence, visuo-motor perception, motor competence and school performance of children with birth weight less than 2000 grams, at the age of 12 years.

Prospective cohort study.

Infants discharged from a Neonatal Special Care Unit of a referral hospital with birth weight less than 2000 g between 1987-89 and followed up in the High Risk Clinic.

The children were assessed by the Weschler's Intelligence Scale, Bender Gestalt test for visuo-motor perception, Wide Range Achievement Test for specific learning disability, Draw-a-Person screening test for emotional problems and Movement Assessment Battery for motor competence. Academic achievement was also scrutinised.

One hundred and eighty children weighing less than 2000 grams at birth and ninety control children were assessed. The mean IQ of the study group was normal (89.5 +/- 16.9), though significantly lower than that of controls (97.2 +/- 14.1; p<0.05). Pre term SGA children had the lowest mean IQ (85.4 +/- 17.7). In the 78 VLBW children, there were 12 (15.4%) mentally retarded children as compared to only 3 (3.3%) amongst controls (p<0.001). There were only 3 (3.8%) 'bright' children among the VLBW group, as compared to 20 (22.2%) in the control group (p<0.001). Visuo-motor perception and motor competence of the study group was poor, and they had writing and mathematics learning disability, especially the preterm SGA and VLBW group. Academic achievement was poor and the incidence of borderline intelligence was 24.4%, which has increased from 13.4% at 6 years.

The intelligence and academic performance of the children weighing less than 2000 grams is significantly lower than that of controls, though within normal limits. They also have poor visuo-motor perception, motor incompetence, reading and mathematics learning disability. The preterm SGA and VLBW children had the poorest cognitive abilities.