Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

88.4K

Using cluster analysis to provide new insights into development of very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants

Gail S Ross1, L M Foran1, Baptiste Barbot2

  • 1Newborn Medicine, Weill-Cornell Medical College, Box 106, 525 East 68 Street, New York, NY 10021, USA.

Early Human Development
|December 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study identified four developmental profiles in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants, linking factors like socioeconomic status and medical conditions to these outcomes. This helps predict future development and guide early intervention for VLBW children.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal development
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Developmental psychology

Background:

  • Existing follow-up studies for very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants often focus on single developmental outcomes.
  • There is a need to assess comprehensive developmental profiles in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify distinct developmental profiles in VLBW infants using cognitive and language assessments.
  • To investigate associations between these profiles and demographic, perinatal, and behavioral factors.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 117 VLBW infants assessed at 18 months corrected age.
  • Utilized Bayley Scales-III (Cognitive, Expressive Language, Receptive Language) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL 1 ½-5).
  • Cluster analysis grouped infants based on cognitive and language scores; demographic, perinatal, and behavioral data were analyzed for associations.

Main Results:

  • Four developmental profiles were identified: Consistently High, Consistently Average, Average with Delayed Expressive Language, and Consistently Low.
  • Socioeconomic status, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe intraventricular hemorrhage (Grades III-IV), and behavioral problem scores (including ADHD) were significantly associated with these profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Cluster analysis effectively defined distinct developmental outcome groups in VLBW children.
  • This approach aids in identifying factors influencing developmental outcomes and may predict later development.
  • The findings can inform early intervention strategies for specific at-risk groups of VLBW infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Behavior problemsCluster analysisCognitionLanguageVery low birthweight premature infants

More Related Videos

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

13.7K
A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

z Scores and Area Under the Curve01:17

z Scores and Area Under the Curve

z scores are the standardized values obtained after converting a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. A z score is measured in units of the standard deviation. The z score tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a z score of...
20.2K
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
21
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
25
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
7.3K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.2K
Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
2.1K