PATTERNS OF LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENT

This study investigates the developmental patterns of cognitive perfor mance over the first 3 years in a large sample of Black and White low- birth-weight (LBW), premature children (N = 762), selected from the In fant Health and Development Program (IHDP). The IHDP is a randomized c linical trial to test the efficacy of education and family support ser vices in reducing the incidence of developmental delay in LBW preterm infants at 8 clinical sites. Developmental patterns are identified by means of cluster analysis on the basis of the intelligence test scores at 12, 24, and 36 months (corrected for gestational age). Five develo pmental patterns were identified, including (a) high stable, (b) high decline to average, (c) high decline to below average, (d) average dec line to below average, and (e) very low stable. Results reveal that th ese patterns of cognitive development can be discriminated by 3 dimens ions: maternal environment, children's neonatal health status, and tre atment. Mother's cognitive ability and the quality of a child's home e nvironment were also found to be associated with LBW children's develo pmental patterns.