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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

Controlled study of intelligence and school performance of very low-birthweight children from a defined geographical

B W Lloyd1, K Wheldall, D Perks

  • 1New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|February 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Very low birthweight children born in the late 1970s showed poorer intellectual outcomes and increased emotional disturbance compared to peers. Neonatal illness further impacted school performance in these vulnerable children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric neurology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Assessing long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants is crucial.
  • Understanding the impact of very low birthweight (VLBW) on cognitive and emotional development is essential for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the intellectual and emotional outcomes of VLBW children.
  • To compare the development of VLBW children with a matched control group.
  • To identify factors influencing outcomes in VLBW survivors.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 45 VLBW children (born 1975-1978, <1501g) without major handicaps.
  • Matched control group comparison (age, sex, race, social class).
  • Assessment of intellectual outcome (IQ), school performance, and emotional disturbance.

Main Results:

  • VLBW children exhibited lower IQ scores compared to controls.
  • A higher proportion of VLBW children performed poorly or below average academically.
  • VLBW children were more prone to emotional disturbances.
  • Major neonatal illness was associated with poorer academic performance.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW survivors without major handicaps face significant neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Neonatal health status is a critical determinant of academic success in VLBW individuals.
  • Findings may reflect outcomes for UK VLBW infants of the era, informing current clinical practice.

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