Abstract
The prognostic value of neonatal neurological examinations was studied in 29 growth-retarded newborn infants and 18 normal infants using a modified Prechtl neurological examination and the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (BNBAS) in the neonatal period. Infants with severe growth retardation (birthweight less than - 2 SD from the mean for gestational age) showed lower muscular tone, fewer optimal scores, poorer orientation capacity, inferior motor function, and less phsysiological stability than the controls (p < 0.05 for each of them). The growth-retarded infants showed poorer results in psychomotor development as assessed by Griffiths' test at 5, 10, 18 months and 5 years of age, lower intelligence (WISC) and poorer reading ability at 8 years of age. Hypotonus and low optimal scores assessed in the neonatal neurological examination correlated to poor results in the WISC and the reading test. No relationship was found between the results of the BNBAS and intelligence and reading ability at 8 years of age. Thus the BNBAS is of limited value as a prognostic instrument regarding psychomotor development.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leijon, I., Billström, G. & Lindh, I. 42 Psychomotor development of children with intrauterine growth retardation in relation to neonatal neurological function. An 8-year follow-up. Pediatr Res 20, 1040 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00096
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198610000-00096