• S Roth, J Wyatt, J Baudin, J Townsend, L Rifkin, T Rushe, C Amiel-Tison, and A L Stewart.
• Department of Paediatrics, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Sroth@glenrosa.demon_co.uk
• Early Hum. Dev. 2001 Dec 1;65(2):81-9.

BackgroundNeurodevelopmental and behavioural problems have been repeatedly reported in very preterm survivors, often showing themselves later in childhood as poor school performance. Early identification of problems would mean that appropriate remedial therapy can be implemented. We have previously shown that neurodevelopmental status at 1 year was predictive of outcome at 8 years in a cohort of preterm infants. The aim of this paper was to see if neurodevelopmental outcome in adolescence could be predicted by assessment by 1 year in the same cohort of preterm infants.Study DesignProspective cohort study.Subjects150 adolescents, born before 33 weeks gestation.Outcome MeasuresNeurological examination, developmental quotient, vision and hearing by 1 year. At 14-15 years, neurological examination, school performance questionnaire, Schonnell test of reading age, a premorbid adjustment score, Rutter behavioural score and for those born from 1981, cognitive tests (WISC-R).ResultsA highly significant relationship existed between neurological status by 1 year and the need for extra educational provision, overall neurodevelopmental status, cognitive function in those that had their IQs measured and premorbid adjustment score of prepsychotic symptoms in adolescence. However, status at 1 year was not predictive of adolescent reading age or behavioural score.ConclusionsNeurodevelopmental assessment at 1 year is predictive of school performance and outcome in the adolescent period.

26 keywords...

hide…