Neuromotor function and school performance in 7-year-old children born as high-risk preterm infants.

Full Abstract

Neuromotor behavior was studied in 63 children at a mean age of 7 years. They were born at a gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or birthweight under 1500 g and were categorized according to their medical history in conformance with the Neonatal Medical Index (from category I to V, from few to serious complications). We included only children considered at high risk as categorized in III to V. The neuromotor behavior study focuses on different subcategories, such as hand function, quality of walking, posture, passive muscle tone, coordination, and diadochokinesia. Hand preference and/or lateralization, the presence of associated movements, and/or asymmetry were noted, as was school performance. Then gender, gestational age, birthweight, and dysmaturity were investigated as confounding factors. The outcome at 7 years was correlated with the Neonatal Medical Index and the neonatal brain ultrasonography classification. None of the children scored 100% on the combined subcategories. Nineteen children (30%) had an overall score between 75 and 99%. Significant relationships between all different subcategories were found. Lack of hand preference, poor lateralization, and male gender were related to poor overall outcome. Poor motor control was correlated to special schooling and education below age level. The Neonatal Medical Index proved to have a significant influence on total outcome and the subcategories at the age of 7 years, with the worst outcome in children formerly classified in category V. Neuromotor behavior at 7 years of age was not related to birthweight, gestational age, dysmaturity, and neonatal brain ultrasonography classification only.

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Author information

Author/s: Samsom, Janny F (JF); de Groot, Laila (L); Cranendonk, Anneke (A); Bezemer, Dick (D); Lafeber, Harry N (HN); Fetter, Willem P F (WP);

Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J.Samsom(-atsign-)VUMC.NL

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of child neurology (J Child Neurol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 17 (issue 5) : pp 325-32

Dates: Created 2002/08/01; Completed 2003/01/23; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12150577, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Male
Motor Skills Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index

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