Neurological evaluation of the newborn

The neurological examination is an integral part of the evaluation of the newborn infant. In too many instances the infant is dismissed from the nursery as 'normal' when,in fact, little or no effort has been expended to determine the body's neurological status. The neurological deficits overlooked often do not become overt until a much later age. Early detection can prevent the mental anguish that plagues the parents who must be told that their 'normal' infant has significant neurological problems. In some instances early diagnosis may lead to a better ultimate prognosis. We have presented a simple scheme for the neurological evaluation of the full-term infant and hope that it will be useful in encouraging pediatricians to assess neurological status.