title: Development of neuromotor functions in very low birth weight children from six to 10 years of age: patterns of change.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess patterns of change for different neuromotor functions in very low birth weight (VLBW) children during school age and to identify factors associated with improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal study, we examined 65 prospectively enrolled VLBW children (38 female, 59%) without cerebral palsy at age six and 10 years. Measures included the evaluation of timed motor performance and motor overflow (MO) for the motor components of the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment (pure motor-, adaptive fine- and gross motor tasks, static balance) and a standardized neurological examination. Variables associated with improvement were assessed by multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between six and 10 years, adaptive fine motor tasks (40% vs. 17% of children scoring below 10th percentile) and MO (77% vs. 55%) improved significantly (both p<0.01), while all other components remained stable (pure motor 23% vs. 25%, adaptive gross motor 26% vs. 34%, static balance 18% vs. 20%, respectively). Mild neurological abnormalities at 6 years of age were associated with less improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromotor functions improve in some children potentially reflecting catch up of maturational delay. However, the majority of neuromotor functions remain abnormal in a significant proportion of VLBW children.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. giancarlo.natalucci@usz.ch
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Natalucci
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Jon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Caflisch
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.forename: Oskar G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Latal
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis