NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PRETERM AND FULL-TERM INFANT AT RISK FOR DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES USING THE DUBOWITZ NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

The Dubowitz Neurological Assessment of the Preterm and Full-term Infa nt was used to evaluate infants at risk for developmental disabilities . Criteria for categorising the results of the Dubowitz Neurological A ssessment were developed by documenting the findings on a group of rel atively low risk infants managed in a NICU. The criteria, expressed as a number of deviant responses on items in the assessment, were used t o test the concurrent and predictive validity. The Dubowitz Neurologic al Assessment was found to correlate with a perinatal risk rating and the findings on brain ultrasonography, indicating concurrent validity. Predictive validity was demonstrated by correlation with neurodevelop mental outcome and neurological status at 1 year corrected age, The se nsitivity and specificity of the assessment were also used to develop a management protocol for graduates of the NICU.