A protocol for structured observation of motor performance in preterm and term infants

A new protocol for structured observation of motor performance has been designed for assessment of the progress and quality of motor development in preterm and term infants. A detailed scale of motor development based on the present knowledge of motor development in healthy term infants has been constructed. The motor performance is observed in each part of the infant's body in the supine and prone positions and in the whole body with the infant sitting, standing and during locomotion, and is evaluated in relation to defined levels of motor performance. If the quality of motor performance is optimal for a certain level, no deviation is noted. Any deviation from the motor performance described in the protocol for the level in question is graded as suspected or clear and classified by type. All observations are recorded on videotape for documentation. In a study of inter- and intraobserver agreement, such recordings from 17 infants were reassessed on two occasions more than one year apart. The interobserver agreement ranged between 73 and 87% and the intraobserver consistency between 77 and 88%. The protocol is currently being used in a follow-up study.