Related Experiment Videos
Developmental outcome in very low birth weight infants 6 to 36 months old
1Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Insights
Low birth weight infants show varying developmental trajectories. Those under 1000g performed worse, with specific skills declining over time, highlighting the need for tailored assessments.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant risk factor for developmental delays.
- Early developmental assessment is crucial for identifying and intervening in potential issues.
- Understanding the long-term impact of LBW on development is essential for clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of birth weight, age, and skill area on the developmental performance of infants weighing less than 1500g.
- To analyze developmental trajectories across different skill domains and birth weight categories.
- To provide insights into the evaluation of low birth weight infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 78 infants with birth weight < 1500g.
- Developmental assessment using Griffiths Mental Scales of Development at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.
- Infants categorized into three birth weight groups: <750g, 750-1000g, and 1001-1500g.
Main Results:
- Significant age and skill interaction observed in developmental performance.
- Locomotor and eye-hand skills showed consistent decline over time.
- Personal-social and hearing/speech skills initially decreased then improved between 12 and 36 months.
- Infants <1000g birth weight consistently underperformed compared to those 1001-1500g.
Conclusions:
- Developmental trajectories for low birth weight infants vary significantly by skill area and birth weight.
- Infants with extremely low birth weight (<1000g) face greater developmental challenges.
- Findings underscore the importance of individualized, longitudinal developmental monitoring for LBW infants.
Abstract:
A cohort of 78 infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth was followed prospectively to determine the impact of birth weight, age of assessment, and skill area on their developmental performance. Five skill areas were tested using the Griffiths Mental Scales of Development at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of age. Infants were divided into three birth weight groups: less than 750 g, 750-1000 g, and 1001-1500 g. A significant age and skill interaction was found, with the locomotor and eye-hand skills decreasing consistently over time, and the personal-social and hearing and speech skills initially decreasing and then rising from 12 to 36 months. Infants born at less than 1000 g consistently performed more poorly than those born at 1001-1500 g. Explanations for the variation in scores and the implications of these findings to the evaluation of low birth weight infants are discussed.