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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
The Validity of the Bayley-III and DDST-II in Preterm Infants With Neurodevelopmental Impairment: A Pilot Study
Seong Uk Jeong1, Ghi Chan Kim1, Ho Joong Jeong1
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Insights
Modified criteria for the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III) and Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) improved detection of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants. The tests showed higher detection rates, especially after 12 months corrected age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Preterm infants are at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairment.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in these infants.
- Standardized developmental screening tools are essential for identifying potential issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III) and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) in preterm infants.
- To determine the optimal criteria for detecting neurodevelopmental impairment using these tools in a preterm population.
- To assess the impact of modified scoring criteria on the detection rates of neurodevelopmental impairment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical charts for 69 preterm infants.
- Analysis of Bayley-III and DDST-II results.
- Modulation of scaled scores for Bayley-III and caution criteria for DDST-II to assess detection rates.
- Verification of detection rates across corrected age groups using conventional and modified criteria.
Main Results:
- Conventional criteria identified 22 infants via Bayley-III and 35 via DDST-II as having neurodevelopmental impairment.
- Modified criteria increased detection rates for both tools; DDST-II detection rose from 50% to 68.6%.
- Highest detection rates were observed after 12 months corrected age, reaching 100% for DDST-II with modified criteria.
Conclusions:
- Accurate neurologic examination remains paramount for identifying neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants.
- Further research is recommended to refine and validate modified detection criteria for Bayley-III and DDST-II in preterm populations.
- Optimized screening criteria can enhance the early identification of neurodevelopmental challenges in high-risk preterm infants.
Objective:
To identify the usefulness of both the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III) and Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) in preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment, considering the detection rate as regulation of criteria.
Methods:
Retrospective medical chart reviews which included the Bayley-III and DDST-II, were conducted for 69 preterm babies. Detection rate of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm babies were investigated by modulating scaled score of the Bayley-III. The detection rate of DDST-II was identified by regarding more than 1 caution as an abnormality. Then detection rates of each corrected age group were verified using conventional criteria.
Results:
When applying conventional criteria, 22 infants and 35 infants were detected as preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment, as per the Bayley-III and DDST-II evaluation, respectively. Detection rates increased by applying abnormal criteria that specified as less than 11 points in the Bayley-III scaled score. In DDST-II, detection rates rose from 50% to 68.6% using modified criteria. The detection rates were highest when performed after 12 months corrected age, being 100% in DDST II. The detection rate also increased when applying the modified criteria in both the Bayley-III and DDST-II.
Conclusion:
Accurate neurologic examination is more important for detection of preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment. We suggest further studies for the accurate modification of the detection criteria in DDST-II and the Bayley-III for preterm babies.

