Minor neurological dysfunction and behavioural development. A report from the Groningen Perinatal Project.
In a follow-up study of 230 children a statistically significant relation was found between the neonatal neurological diagnosis and the presence of minor neurological dysfunctions at the age of 6 years: of 167 normal newborns, 7% turned out to have MND at follow-up versus 21% of 63 (mildly) abnormal neonates. Interval complications occurred especially in the latter group of MND children. Their presence may have hampered recovery. Both follow-up and neonatal neurological diagnoses were in a varying degree related to undesired behaviour as reported by parents and teachers, such as 'clumsy', 'difficult to handle', 'hyperactive', 'irritable' and 'temper tantrums'. However, only to a limited extent the variance of the behaviour was explained by the neurological findings. It was concluded that, although the neurological condition of a child may determine his vulnerability for environmental influence to a certain extent, the contribution of both sex and environment on behavioural development is preponderant.
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012737:Sex Factors