IDENTIFICATION OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITY AT 4 AND 8 MONTHS BYTHE MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT OF INFANTS

The predictive validity of infant neuromotor evaluation by the Movemen t Assessment of Infants (MAI) was investigated in low-birthweight infa nts. Motor performance at four and eight months was examined in relati on to neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months of age. Correlations wer e equally strong between total MAI risk scores at four and eight month s and performance on the Bayley Scales. Muscle tone observations were more discriminating at four months, and automatic reactions and voliti onal movement were most predictive at eight months. The MAI was highly sensitive to neurodevelopmental abnormality at four and eight months and more sensitive than the Bayley Motor Scale; both assessment tools had lower specificity at eight months. The high false-positive rate is attributed to transient neuromotor abnormalities and immaturity of mo tor function in low-birthweight infants with normal outcome.