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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Relevance of Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale for Infants With Somatic Disorders: Comparison on One Matched Group
Rose-Angélique Belot1, Margaux Bouteloup1, André Mariage1
1Laboratory of Psychology EA3188, UFR SLHS, University of Bourgogne/Franche-Comte, Besançon, France.
Insights
Infants with somatic disorders show lower Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale scores compared to healthy infants. Somatic conditions significantly impact infant state regulation, motor system, and interaction abilities.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neonatal Health
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Infant behavior assessment is crucial for early detection of developmental issues.
- Somatic disorders in infants can potentially affect neurodevelopment and behavior.
- Understanding these impacts aids in tailored early interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale (NBAS) scores between infants with and without somatic disorders.
- To identify specific behavioral domains affected by somatic conditions in neonates.
- To provide insights for healthcare professionals in managing infants with somatic disorders.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 26 infants aged 5–18 weeks.
- Two groups (13 infants each): clinical (with somatic disorder) and control (healthy).
- NBAS administered and scores compared between groups, matched for sex, age, and socioeconomic factors.
Main Results:
- The control group exhibited significantly higher NBAS scores than the clinical group.
- Somatic disorders negatively affected most NBAS items, particularly state regulation, motor system, and orientation/interaction.
- Five of six NBAS categories showed statistically significant differences favoring the control group.
Conclusions:
- Somatic disorders in infants are associated with difficulties in excitation regulation and behavioral development.
- This research highlights the significant impact of somatic conditions on infant behavior.
- Findings support the development of adapted care strategies for infants with somatic disorders.
Abstract:
Objective: To compare the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale results in two groups of infants with or without somatic disorder (N = 26). Method: The Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale was administered to two groups (clinical and control) of 13 infants each, aged from 5 to 18 weeks, matched 2 by 2 according to sex, age, rank among siblings, and parental socio-professional category. The first group includes infants with somatic disorder (clinical) and is matched with a second group of "healthy infants" (control). Results: Results indicate that the mean score of the control group is significantly higher than that of the clinical group. Most of the items are affected by the presence of a somatic disorder. Indeed, five out of the six categories present a statistically significant difference in favor of the control group, more specifically for the items "state regulation," "motor system," and "orientation/interaction." Conclusion: This exploratory research enables a precise description of infants' difficulty in regulating excitations and the impact of somatic disorders on their development. This innovative knowledge will assist pediatricians and health professionals in the understanding of infants' characteristics to develop an adapted-care.
