DEVELOPMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION

Intrauterine growth retardation increases the risks to subsequent func tioning among low birthweight children, but the quality of the caretak ing environment may influence the impact of these risks. This prospect ive report examined the consequences of intrauterine growth retardatio n, neonatal medical risk, and environmental risk for attentional diffi culties during early childhood. The developmental status of small-for- gestational-age (SCA) children was within the normal range during infa ncy but was significantly poorer than that of appropriate-for-gestatio nal-age (AGA) children. Among SCA children, neonatal illness and prema turity had differential influences on childhood attentional difficulti es. Intrauterine growth retardation interacted with the quality of the environment to influence the child's ability to sustain attention and inhibit impulsive responses in a task situation. For both SGA and AGA children, the effect of environmental risk was manifested in hyperact ive behaviors in the home context.