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Updated: Oct 21, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Neuropsychomotor development in children born preterm at 6 and 12 months of corrected gestational age
Nathália Faria de Freitas1, Cynthia Ribeiro do Nascimento Nunes1, Thalyta Magalhães Rodrigues1
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Insights
Neuropsychomotor developmental delay is significant in preterm infants, with higher incidence observed at 12 months corrected age compared to 6 months. This highlights the need for continued research in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants born at 32 gestational weeks or less are at increased risk for developmental challenges.
- Neuropsychomotor developmental delay can impact cognitive and motor functions.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of neuropsychomotor developmental delay in preterm infants at 6 and 12 months corrected gestational age.
- To evaluate cognitive and motor development using standardized assessments.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, descriptive study involving 133 preterm infants born at <= 32 weeks gestational age.
- The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley III) was used for cognitive and motor assessments.
- Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney and Z-tests to compare developmental scores and proportions.
Main Results:
- A higher incidence of developmental delay was observed at 12 months compared to 6 months corrected age.
- Cognitive scores showed delays in 10.3% at 12 months vs. 2.3% at 6 months.
- Motor scores (composite and fine motor) also demonstrated increased delays at 12 months (22.7% and 24.7%, respectively) compared to 6 months (12% and 8.4%, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Significant cognitive and motor developmental delays were noted in preterm infants, particularly by 12 months corrected age.
- The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive developmental screening in this population.
- Further research is warranted to explore underlying factors and optimize interventions for preterm infants experiencing developmental delays.
Objective:
To assess the incidence of neuropsychomotor developmental delay at 6 and 12 months of corrected gestational age in children born at 32 gestational weeks or less.
Methods:
A descriptive and prospective study was carried out at two public maternity hospitals. Between April 2017 and January 2019, we assessed 133 children without any known risk factors for neuropsychomotor developmental delay. The Bayley III scale was used to evaluate cognitive and motor development. The p value of the numerical variables was calculated using the Mann-Whitney test, whereas proportions of categorical variables were compared using the Z-test.
Results:
The mean maternal age was 26±6.9 years,78.8% were from middle and lower economic classes, and 57.1% of the analyzed children were female. Children presented with a higher incidence of delay at 12 months than at 6 months (10.3 and 2.3% at 12 and 6 months, respectively, for the cognitive score; 22.7 and 12% at 12 and 6 months, respectively, for the composite motor score; and 24.7 and 8.4% at 12 and 6 months, respectively, for the fine motor score).
Conclusions:
Cognitive and motor developmental delays were significant, with the highest incidence at 12 months. The results of this study encourage further research on this topic, since the exclusion criteria were comprehensive and the delays in neuropsychomotor development were significant.
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