Abstract
The Bayley Scales are widely used to measure both mental and motor development of high-risk premature infants, but vary dramatically between ages in the comprehensiveness of assessment. Our follow-up of 75 ≤1,200 gm infants has employed both the Bayley and the Milani-Comparetti to improve our definition of the specific motor deficits of premature infants with a history of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Thirty-five (46.7%) of our infants experienced ICH originating in the germinal layer, with 27 of the 35 showing no further extension of the hemorrhage. Motor assessments performed during the first 2 years revealed persistent motor delay in the ICH group beginning at 4 mo. of age. Gross motor skills were primarily affected, with delayed postural reactions and walking in the ICH group. Differences seen at 1 yr persisted through the second year. Infants at highest risk were those who showed persistent ventriculomegaly (VM) or abnormal periventricular morphology (APM) through term gestational age, but this finding was at least partially determined by the nature of the assessment scale. ICH per se, without associated VM or APM, conferred no special risk after 4 mo. on the Bayley Scales, but was associated with significantly poorer postural reactions on the Milani-Comparetti at 12 mo. corrected age. Both scales agreed, however, in showing poorest outcome for ICH infants with VM or APM diagnosed by ultrasound at term gestational age.
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Nelson, M., Bozynski, M., Genaze, D. et al. EARLY MOTOR ASSESSMENT OF THE ≤ 1,200 GM PREMATURE. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 110 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00104
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00104