45 PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN TO 8 YEARS WHO RECEIVED NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE

Abstract

We tested 297 children repeatedly from 6 mos to 8 yrs. All were born in 1965–1975 and required neonatal intensive care because of low birth weight (BW) and/or hyaline membrane disease. Most were from middle-class families. All but 5% were testable at 8 yrs with standard psychological tests. In all, 86% had IQs ≥85; for infants with BW ≤1500 the proportion was 80%. For the whole group, mild intellectual disabilities were the major adverse outcomes detected at 8 yrs.

Two specific disabilities that occurred frequently were low visual-motor integration scores (VMI deficit) and language disability (low WISC-R Verbal IQ—Low VIQ). The behavioral antecedents of these problems were examined by comparisons with IQmatched groups that did not have the disability. The VMI deficit group had lower IQ than its comparison by 2 yrs of age and thereafter. The Low VIQ group did not differ from its comparison group until age 3 yrs when lower IQ was noted which persisted through age 6 yrs. Predictive test items associated with the observed IQ differences have been identified. The neonatal precursors of specific disabilities were also examined. VLBW was associated with Low VIQ but not with VMI deficit. Sex differences were not significant in these discrete outcomes. When an overall illness rating which had been assigned to each infant was considered, the Low VIQ group have been significantly more sick than all other children except those with IQ <75. (Supported by HL-27356 and HD-17669)

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