Abstract
This population based study compares the performance of 8 year old children with birth weight under 1500 g (VLBW) without major handicap (n=29) and random control children (n=29). An extensive battery consisting of neuromotor evaluation, antropometry, WISC-R cognitive test, Halstead-Reitan neuropsychological test battery, Kløve-Matthews Motor Steadiness Battery, Sheridan Gardener visual testing, audiometry and PIC (Personality Inventory for Children) behaviour questionnaire was used. The main goal of the study was to assess the frequency and type of subtle cerebral dysfunction found in VLBW children without major handicap.
Full scale IQ (mean 93/104 p=0.008), number of neurological soft signs (mean 2,7/1,1 p= 0.018), foot-tapping (mean 21/24 p = 0.003) were significantly more pathological in the VLBW group. The VLBW children were significantly smaller on all antropometrical measurements. No pregnancy or perinatal factor predicted outcome.
A subgroup of 7 VLBW children were clearly deviant in most areas tested including, cognitive, visuo-motor, neuromotor, language and behaviour. The majority of the other VLBW children were indistinguishable from the controls on all aspects except that they were smaller.
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Sommerfelt, K., Markestad, T. & Ellertsen, B. NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME AT 8 YEARS OF AGE FOR CHILDREN WITH BIRTHWEIGHT LOWER THAN 1500 g. Pediatr Res 32, 620 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00091