6-YEAR NEURODEVELOPMENTAL FOLLOW-UP OF VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN

Twenty-four children born preterm with very low birthweight (VLBW) in 1985 at Bikur Holim Hospital were followed until age 6 years. Their ne urological status and developmental and cognitive abilities were exami ned at 1, 2 and 6 years of age respectively and were compared with a c ontrol group at age 6 years. Of the 24 VLBW children, 4 had major disa bilities. Of those without major disabilities, mean total IQ (WPPSI) a t six years was 101.5 +/- 11.3, not significantly different from their mean Mental Development Index (Bayley) at age 2 years which was 96.1 +/- 19.6, or from the mean total IQ of a control group of 6-year-oId c hildren which was 109.8 +/- 14.7. However, the mean verbal IQ of the V LBW children (95.3 +/- 11.7) was significantly lower than that of the control group (106.2 +/- 14.3) (P = 0.02). Minor neurological deficit wits found in seven of the VLBW children and in only one of the contro ls (P = 0.05). These findings point to possible future learning diffic ulties and should alert both pediatricians and educationalists to the importance of long-term follow-up of VLBW children in order to identif y and address their specific educational needs.