Relation of cranial ultrasound abnormalities in low-birthweight infants tomotor or cognitive performance at ages 2, 6, and 9 years

This study sought to determine whether neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormal ities are related to motor and cognitive outcomes in low-birthweight (LBW, <2000 g) children without major motor or cognitive disability, The relation of neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormalities to motor performance and gene ral cognitive ability at ages 2, 6, and 9 years was examined in a prospecti vely followed regional cohort of LBW children, excluding those with major d isability, and controlling far other risk factors. Compared with children w ithout ultrasound abnormalities, children with abnormalities indicative of ischemic white-matter injury had poorer motor performance at all three ages and, at age 2, lower general cognitive ability. The latter finding was not seen when motor performance was also controlled for. It was concluded that in LBW children without major motor or cognitive disability, ischemic whit e-matter injury indicated by neonatal cranial ultrasound abnormalities adve rsely affected motor performance at ages 2, 6, and 9 years, but not general cognitive ability.