Abstract
Background
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) is a standardized method for infant neurobehavioral assessment. Normative values are available for newborns, but the NNNS is not always feasible at birth. Unfortunately, 1-month NNNS normative data are lacking.
Aims
To provide normative data for the NNNS examination at 1 month and to assess birth-to-one-month changes in NNNS summary scores.
Study design
The NNNS was administered at birth and at 1 month within a longitudinal prospective study design.
Subjects
A cohort of 99 clinically healthy full-term infants were recruited from a well-child nursery.
Outcome measures
Birth-to-1-month NNNS variations were evaluated and the association of neonatal and sociodemographic variables with the rate of change of NNNS summary scores were investigated.
Results and conclusions
NNNS scores from the 10th to the 90th percentile represent a range of normative performance at 1 month. A complex pattern of stability and change emerged comparing NNNS summary scores from birth to 1 month. Orienting, Regulation, and Quality of movements significantly increased, whereas Lethargy and Hypotonicity significantly decreased. Birth-to-1-month changes in NNNS performance suggest improvements in neurobehavioral organization. These data are useful for research purposes and for clinical evaluation of neurobehavioral performance in both healthy and at-risk 1-month-old infants.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Standardization of the NRN-Neurobehavioral Scale, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01Hd37138 to E.T.). The supporting agency has no role in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the manuscript, and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
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Provenzi, L., Olson, K., Giusti, L. et al. NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale: 1-month normative data and variation from birth to 1 month. Pediatr Res 83, 1104–1109 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2018.25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2018.25
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