Visual-motor function of very low birth weight and full-term children at 31/2 to 4 years of age

Improvements in perinatal and neonatal management have not only led to a hi gher survival rate of very low birth weight infants (VLBW; less than or equ al to 1500 g or < 32 weeks gestational age), but also to a better outcome o f these children. However the percentage of VLBW children who need special education because of later school problems remains high even in children co nsidered neurologically normal during infancy. We assessed 40 VLBW children and 83 healthy full-term children at age 31/2 to 4 years by means of a sim ple and shea test for visual-motor deficits. The test included the copying and cutting-out of geometric shapes, the building of models, the recognitio n of colours and the observation of the concentration and cooperation durin g the test. All VLBW children had had a good perinatal outcome and had been considered neurologically normal at one year of age. Most VLBW children sc ored within 1 standard deviation (S.D.) of the test mean, but on average th e VLBW children scored significantly lower than the full-term infants in th e copying of figures, the cutting-out of geometric forms, the building of m odels and in the overall concentration and cooperation during the test. Chi ldren who attended a nursery school achieved significantly better test resu lts. Girls tended to have better results, but this was not statistically si gnificant. Social factors and age had a significantly greater impact on res ults than perinatal factors. In summary, VLBW children scored significantly less in almost every test item compared to their term peers. Our test batt ery could serve as a short introductory test to screen for deficits in visu al-motor skills, especially in VLBW children. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.