T. Salokorpi et al., Neurological development up to the age of four years of extremely low birthweight infants born in Southern Finland in 1991-94, ACT PAEDIAT, 90(2), 2001, pp. 218-221
A total of 142 infants with birthweights of less than 1000 g were examined
at the age of 4 y by a child neurologist, by a neuropsychologist and by an
occupational therapist in order to establish the rate of neurological disor
ders. A total of 57 (40%) of the children had normal neurological developme
nt, 52 (37%) had minor neurological disorders, 27 (19%) were diagnosed with
cerebral palsy, and 6 (4%) were mentally retarded (IQ <71) with no motor d
isability. The rate of cerebral palsy was identical with the figure at age
2 y, but the rate of minor neurological disorders increased from 25% to 37%
.
Compared with international rates, we found a higher rate of cerebral palsy
, but the incidence of minor neurological disorders corresponded with figur
es published previously.