title: Follow-up of pre-term infants: is correction of the developmental quotient for prematurity helpful?
abstract: Developmental quotients, measured on the Griffiths' scales, of 114 preterm infants of less than 34 wk gestation are compared with abnormal neurological findings at 1 yr of cerebral palsy, dystonia, and motor delay. The developmental quotient (DQ) uncorrected for prematurity more readily distinguishes the abnormal infant than the corrected DQ. It is recommended that while developmental follow-up still uses scales originally standardised on older preterm and full-term infants the uncorrected developmental quotient is also used. Ideally normative data on the preterm infant should be compiled as a basis for assessing development in these infants.
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D002657:Child Development; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D004421:Dystonia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000523:psychology*; D009048:Motor Skills