PREDICTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERNS THROUGH 40 MONTHS FROM 6-MONTH AND 12-MONTH NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATIONS IN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS

This study examines whether neurologic examinations at 6 and 12 months of age can predict developmental patterns in very low birth weight in fants and fullterm controls through 40 months of age. We performed neu rologic examinations at 6 and 12 months; the Bayley Scales of Infant D evelopment at 6, 12, and 24 months; and the Stanford-Binet and the McC arthy Motor scale at 40 months, The very low birth weight infants were categorized on the basis of socioeconomic status and high or low risk for early medical complications. More abnormal neurologic scores pred icted greater deceleration of cognitive development for high-risk infa nts only, The 12-month neurologic examination predicted the degree of deceleration in motor development. Medical risk was an independent pre dictor of curvature of the psychomotor development curve. We conclude that neurologic examinations during the 1 st year of life might be use d with other factors in decisions concerning referrals to early-interv ention programs.