title: Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes at preschool age for children with very low birth weight.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight children without major impairment at 5 years of age, as well as to identify the contribution of early neurodevelopmental assessment to preterm children's later developmental outcomes. The participants in this study included 126 children who were prematurely born with very low birth weight. Outcomes of the childrens' later development were measured in tests that factored cognitive function, motor performance, and adaptive behavior. The results indicated that more than 50% of full-scale intelligence and 30% of both motor performance and adaptive behavior at the age of 5 can be explained by four predictors. The four predictors include preterm children's medical complications at birth, maternal education, early motor assessments, and cognitive assessments. Adding each test score obtained in early ages provides additional information to predict children's cognitive, motor, and adaptive behavior at 5 years of age. Manifold assessments conducted in multiple time periods strengthen the predictive values of later developmental outcomes. In addition, the findings of this study indicate that very low birth weight children tend to have lower adaptive behavior at 5 years old. With regard to our findings, we believe that having adaptive function is a reflection of a child's overall integrated abilities. Further study is warranted to increase understanding of this topic, as well as to be able to predict adaptive strengths and weakness and pinpoint limiting factors that may be useful for targeting behaviors in intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Tsu-Hsin
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Education, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Fan
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address: tnwang@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tien-Ni
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lan-Wan
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development / Q000523:psychology; D009048:Motor Skills; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Adaptive function; Prematurity