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Updated: May 2, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
[Neurodevelopmental outcome of very premature infants]
Insights
Very preterm infants face neurodevelopmental risks affecting motor skills, intelligence, and behavior. Early follow-up helps identify and manage potential impairments like cerebral palsy and learning disabilities.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Very preterm infants (born before 37 weeks) represent 1% of Swiss births.
- These infants are susceptible to neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose:
- To outline the neurodevelopmental risks associated with very preterm birth.
- To describe the components of neurodevelopmental follow-up.
- To highlight the prevalence of specific impairments in this population.
Summary:
- Very preterm infants are at high risk for motor, intellectual, and behavioral deficits.
- Abnormal motor tone may indicate evolving cerebral palsy or resolve spontaneously.
- Standardized tests and questionnaires assess cognitive function, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues such as ADHD, autism, and social difficulties.
Impact:
- Early identification of neurodevelopmental impairments in very preterm infants allows for timely intervention.
- Understanding these risks can inform clinical practice and support strategies for affected children and families.
- This follow-up care aims to improve long-term outcomes for very preterm survivors.
Abstract:
Very preterm infants are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, which may affect motor development, intelligence and behavior. Neurodevelopmental follow-up is offered to these children who represent 1% of Swiss births, and may show abnormal motor tone, which sometimes resolves spontaneously or evolves in cerebral palsy. Standardized tests explore intellectual functioning and may allow the diagnosis of specific learning impediments. Finally, behavior is assessed with standardized questionnaires which can reveal hyperactivity with or without attention deficit, impaired social relations, psychiatric troubles or autism, all more frequent amongst preterm children.
