title: The long-term predictive validity of early motor development in "apparently normal" ELBW survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Within the able majority of ELBW survivors, there is a lack of identified predictors of which children will require extra support despite having escaped significant disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the predictive validity of early motor scores, compared to that of perinatal descriptors or early growth, on long-term motor impairment in non-disabled ELBW (<1000g) children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  48 non-disabled ELBW children (27 male) completed the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA) at 8 months, 2 years and 4 years post term and The Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) at 11-13 years of age. Other possible predictors of long-term outcomes (gestational age, birthweight, multiple birth, head circumference measures and gender) were retrieved from the records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early motor assessment (NSMDA score) independently predicted the MABC total score at 11-13 years of age with a positive predictive value of 87% by 4 years post term. There was increased risk of long-term motor impairment associated with male gender but the degree of prematurity, multiple birth status or early growth measures did not predict motor outcome. Postural control and sensory motor scores at 4 years post term, rather than neurological score, were associated with long-term motor outcomes for the ELBW children at 11-13 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early motor scores are valid markers of long-term motor outcomes for "apparently normal" ELBW children. Early postural competence and sensory motor function are discriminating in regards to long-term motor function in neurologically normal ELBW children.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation, Brisbane, Australia. danksfam@bigpond.net.au
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danks
authors.forename: Mohammad Fauzan
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Maideen
authors.forename: Yvonne R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Leith
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watter
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gibbons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests