RELATION OF EARLY NEUROMOTOR AND CRANIAL SIGNS WITH NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME AT 4 YEARS

The persistence and predictive value at 3-5 years of age of three sign s detected within the first IS months of life were investigated: phasi c stretch reflex in one or both gastrocnemius muscles, imbalance in pa ssive axial tone with an excess of dorsal extension, and a ridge on th e squamous sutures. Phasic stretch reflex and at least one of the othe r signs were found in 14 children during repeated assessments within t he first 18 months, The progress of these children was compared with t hat of 14 matched controls who had repeatedly normal neurological asse ssments during the first 18 months in the same clinic in Pal is. At th e age 3-5 years all the children were then assessed blindly by the sec ond author from a pediatric neurological viewpoint and bg two psycholo gists and two psychomotor therapists as well, The parents of the affec ted children reported significantly more problems in motor/praxis skil ls, language development and attention, Abnormal neurological signs we re also significantly more frequent than in the controls, Suboptimal c ognition did not reach significance, The neurological inclusion criter ia were still present at 3-5 years old in 86% (vs, respectively 100% a nd 93% during the first IS months of life) of this small group of chil dren, while the cranial suture sign was still present in only 28% (vs. 64%), Findings of these three signs during the first 18 months of lif e may help in predicting long-term neurobehavioral or long-term neurop sychological problems.