Determinants of developmental performance of very low-birthweight survivors at one and two years of age.
The developmental outcome of 61 very low-birthweight infants was studied prospectively by means of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at one and two years of age, corrected for prematurity. Preliminary analysis revealed that the mean scores for mental and psychomotor development were within the normal limits at both testing occasions. However, further analysis showed that there was a significant decrease in mental development scores from one to two years of age, due primarily to an increase in the numbers of low-scoring children with 'hyperactive' behaviour at two years. Separate subgroups of children with suboptimal mental and psychomotor development scores were characterised at both testing occasions by the presence of 'hyperactive' behaviour and disability, usually of a minor degree. The presence of hyperactivity, disability and lowered mental performance may help in the early identification of children at increased developmental risk.
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000523:psychology; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance