Early cognitive and behavioral predictors of later performance: a follow-up study of ELBW children from ages 2 to 4

The aim of this study was to examine whether behavioral style and cognitive performance predict cognitive development in ELBW children. The children w ere assessed at age 2 (40 girls, 41 boys) with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. At age 4 they were assessed with the WPPSI-R, and with the wor d fluency, visual attention and recognition of incomplete figures subsets o f the Finnish Neuropsychological Investigation for Children (NEPSY-R; Korkm an et al. 1997). The results indicated that there was stability in cognitiv e performance from 2 to 4 years of age. Along with cognitive performance, b ehavioral style, especially orientation-engagement at age 2, was an importa nt predictor of subsequent cognitive performance (WPPSI-R). Significant gen der differences were also found. For boys, orientation-engagement factor at time one was the best predictor of subsequent nonverbal cognitive performa nce, arithmetical abilities and word fluency at time two. In contrast, girl s' cognitive performance measured at the 2-year assessment was the most pow erful predictor of nonverbal performance and word fluency at 4 years. As a whole, it seems that behavioral factors merit more consideration in underst anding cognitive development than has been thought before. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Inc. All rights reserved.