Is paediatric assessment of motor development of very preterm and low-birthweight children appropriate?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether paediatricians that examine, in regular clinical practice, very preterm and very-low-birthweight children at 5 y of age detect neurological impairments and functional motor problems in these children.


METHODS
We compared a paediatric judgement, a standardized neurological examination (Touwen examination) and a screening of motor development (Denver Developmental Screening Test; DDST) with the Movement ABC in 396 5-y-old very preterm and low-birthweight children.


RESULTS
The Movement ABC detected clinically important motor disorders in 20.5% and borderline disturbances in 22.5% of the children. Compared to the Movement ABC, the sensitivity of the paediatric judgement was 0.19, Touwen examination 0.62 and DDST 0.52; the negative predictive values were 0.61, 0.74 and 0.69, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Paediatric assessment of motor development in 5-y-old very preterm and low-birthweight children generally is not sensitive enough to detect functional motor problems. The Movement ABC should be added to the assessment of the motor development of very preterm and low-birthweight children at 5 y of age.
De Kleine
Martin J K
MJ
Department of Neonatology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, the Netherlands. m.dekleine@mmc.nl
Nijhuis-Van Der Sanden
Maria W G
MW
Lya Den Ouden
A
A
D002547:Cerebral Palsy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010372:Pediatrics; D010808:Physical Examination; D004856:Postural Balance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity