Cognitive development of children in poverty with failure to thrive: a prospective study through age 6.
BACKGROUND
This study examined the cognitive development of children in poverty with normal growth and those with a history of failure to thrive (FTT) prospectively from infancy through age 6.


METHODS
Participants were 226 low-income infants with normal birthweight and no perinatal complications, congenital problems, or chronic illnesses. One hundred and twenty-eight children experienced FTT and were treated in an interdisciplinary clinic, and 98 had normal growth.


RESULTS
Cognitive development declined in both groups to 1.0-1.5 SD below the norm. Children with FTT had lower cognitive scores than children with adequate growth through age 4, followed by recovery. By ages 5 and 6, there were no differences in cognitive scores based on the children's growth history. Using hierarchical linear modeling, child-centered home environment and small family size were related to better cognitive performance.


CONCLUSIONS
The low scores of both groups point to the need for programs promoting a child-centered home environment.
Mackner
Laura M
LM
Psychology Department, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA. MacknerL@chi.osu.edu
Black
Maureen M
MM
Starr
Raymond H
RH
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005183:Failure to Thrive; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors