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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

Babies at double hazard: early development of infants at biologic and social risk

S K Escalona

    Pediatrics
    |November 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Early childhood development is impacted by social class and behavioral issues. Environmental factors significantly affect cognitive development in both full-term and premature infants.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental Psychology
    • Pediatrics
    • Sociology

    Background:

    • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates are a vulnerable population.
    • Socioeconomic status and behavioral factors may influence long-term developmental outcomes.
    • Understanding environmental impacts on cognitive development is crucial for early intervention.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the long-term cognitive and psychosocial development of NICU graduates.
    • To identify factors associated with cognitive decline in early childhood.
    • To examine the differential impact of environmental factors on full-term versus premature infants.

    Main Methods:

    • Longitudinal study of 114 NICU infants followed from birth to 3.5 years.
    • Exclusion of infants with severe brain damage or mental retardation at 7 months.
    • Cognitive and behavioral assessments at various developmental milestones.

    Main Results:

    • Normal cognitive development observed until 15 months.
    • Significant cognitive decline observed from 28 months, associated with social class.
    • Behavioral maladjustment led to impaired cognitive development across all social classes.
    • Neurologic pathology and gestational age (small for gestational age vs. appropriate for gestational age) did not significantly affect IQ at 3.5 years.
    • Premature infants showed greater vulnerability to environmental insufficiencies.

    Conclusions:

    • Environmental deficits and stresses negatively impact cognitive and psychosocial development in NICU graduates.
    • Social class and behavioral maladjustment are key predictors of cognitive decline.
    • Premature infants are more susceptible to adverse environmental influences than full-term infants.

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