Stability of the Motor Optimality Score Revised (MOS-R) in medically complex infants.

BACKGROUND: The Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R) is a clinical test of infant spontaneous movement at 3-5 months of age and has been associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with medical complexity. However the stability of the MOS-R tested at different developmental ages is not yet known. AIM: To determine if the repeated scoring of the MOS-R remained consistent when tested at two developmental ages in young infants. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study, infants were tested twice with the MOS-R between 12 and 13 weeks corrected age (CA) and 14-16 weeks CA. Bland Altman Plots were used to calculate agreement between the scores. Infants were grouped as having higher or lower medical complexity. MOS-R threshold scores were analyzed to assess changes over time within each group using Fisher's exact test. SUBJECTS: 85 infants with history of hospitalization in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). RESULTS: The MOS-R scores had a high agreement with negligible bias (0.058) between timepoints (95 % CI -1.10, 1.22). Using a MOS-R cut point of 19, infants with higher medical complexity were more likely to change groups between timepoints than infants with lower medical complexity (p = 0.008), but this was not significantly different using cut points of 20 or 21. CONCLUSION: The MOS-R scores were stable when measured repeatedly in infants who were hospitalized in a NICU. Infants with high medical complexity had less stable MOS-R scores using certain cut points than infants with lower medical complexity.

Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Convergent and discriminant validity and reliability in infants with and without spastic cerebral palsy.

AIM: To describe the development of an observational measure of spontaneous independent joint motion in infants with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), the Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR), and to test its convergent validity and reliability. METHOD: A retrospective sample of 75 infants (45 with spastic CP and 30 without CP) at 3 months of age were scored with the BabyOSCAR and compared with diagnosis of spastic CP, limbs affected, and Gross Motor Function Classification level at 2 years of age or later for convergent validity using t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. BabyOSCAR interrater and test-retest reliability was also evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Infants with spastic CP had significantly lower BabyOSCAR scores than children without CP (p < 0.001) and scores were significantly correlated with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels (p < 0.001). Children with unilateral CP had significantly higher asymmetry scores than children with bilateral CP or no CP (p < 0.01). Interrater and test-retest reliabilities were good to excellent. INTERPRETATION: Reductions in independent joint control measured in infancy are a hallmark of eventual diagnosis of spastic CP, and influence gross motor function later in childhood (with or without a diagnosis of CP).

Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Scores at 3 months predict functional ability, spastic cerebral palsy distribution, and diagnosis at 2 years.

AIM: To assess the predictive capabilities of the Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR) tool, administered at 3 months corrected age, in determining spastic cerebral palsy (CP) outcome, functional abilities, and body topography at 2 years of age or later. METHOD: Independent joint motions were measured at age 10 to 16 weeks from video recordings of spontaneous movement using BabyOSCAR in a sample of 75 infants. All included infants had known 2-year outcomes (45 with spastic CP and 30 without CP) including Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels and CP body distribution. Receiver operating characteristic curves and cut points indicating greatest sensitivity and specificity were generated for predictive performance. RESULTS: Total BabyOSCAR score was a strong predictor of future outcome of spastic CP (cut score of 22.5, sensitivity = 98%, specificity = 100%, area under the curve = 0.99), and was able to distinguish children classified in GMFCS levels I and II from those in III to V (cut score of 13.5, sensitivity = 92%, specificity = 89%, area under the curve = 0.94). Having an (absolute) asymmetry score on the BabyOSCAR of more than 5 was a predictor of having unilateral CP at age 2 years (sensitivity = 56%, specificity = 100%, area under the curve = 0.86). INTERPRETATION: BabyOSCAR scores are predictors of diagnosis, body distribution, and future gross motor function in infants with spastic CP at 2 years of age or later.

Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR): Construct validity and test performance.

AIM: To investigate the construct validity of the Baby Observational Selective Control AppRaisal (BabyOSCAR), an assessment of independent joint motion in infants with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: BabyOSCAR was scored for 75 infants (45 with CP and 30 without CP). Rasch analysis was used in combination with classical test theory to assess areas of strength or improvement. Overall fit and precision, unidimensionality, local independence, reliability indices, Wright's child-item map, and differential item functioning were examined as part of Rasch analysis to investigate the item properties, internal construct validity, and reliability of BabyOSCAR. Cronbach's α was used to evaluate items' internal consistency. RESULTS: Analysis demonstrated good fit to the Rasch model, with only one erratic item. Unidimensionality results suggest two dimensions, split between arm and leg items. Item calibration reliability was between 0.84 and 0.86, with three distinct item difficulty levels. Infant measure reliability was between 0.82 and 0.91, separating infants into three ability levels. Together, the two subscales covered the full range of skills, with redundancy mostly between the same motion on both sides of the body. Cronbach's α was between 0.90 and 0.95. INTERPRETATION: BabyOSCAR's construct validity was supported. Arm and leg subscales can be translated to a logit scale.

Assessing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Graduates Across Varied Settings: A Study on the Feasibility of the Baby Moves App.

We assessed the feasibility of obtaining parent-collected General Movement Assessment videos using the Baby Moves app. Among 261 participants from 4 Chicago NICUs, 70% submitted videos. Families living in higher areas of childhood opportunity used the app more than those from areas of lower opportunity.

Motor Optimality Scores are significantly lower in a population of high-risk infants than in infants born moderate-late preterm.

BACKGROUND: The Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R) is a detailed scoring of the General Movement Assessment (GMA), measuring the spontaneous behaviors of infants. Infants born moderate-late preterm are not traditionally followed in high-risk clinics, but have increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability. AIMS: Compare MOS-R at 3 months corrected age (CA) in high-risk (HR; very preterm or abnormal neuroimaging) infants to infants born moderate-late preterm (MLP). STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study, parents of enrolled infants created video recordings using an app at 3 months CA. Videos were scored with the General Movement Assessment (GMA) and MOS-R. MOS-R scores were divided into "higher-risk" (≤19) and "lower-risk" (≥20). SUBJECTS: 181 infants born MLP or categorized as HR. RESULTS: Among enrolled infants, 68 (38 %) were in the MLP group, and 113 infants were in the HR group. The HR group had 3.8 increased odds of having an aberrant GMA score compared to the MLP group (p < 0.01, 95 % CI 1.38-10.52). The HR group had significantly lower MOS-R scores (mean 20) than the MLP group (mean 24; p < 0.001; 95%CI 3.3-7.3). The HR group had 11.2 increased odds of having a higher-risk MOS-R score (95%CI 2.5-47.6, p < 0.001) than MLP group. Infants were most likely to have a lower MOS-R score if they had any of the following: VP shunt placement, periventricular leukomalacia, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant GMA and higher-risk MOS-R scores were more common in infants at high-risk, reflecting history of brain lesions and younger gestational age at birth.

Cross-cultural validation of the Brazilian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (LDCDQ-BR) for preschool children.

INTRODUCTION: Motor difficulties associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are frequently apparent before the accepted diagnostic age of 5. Tools to support identification of DCD markers would allow provision of early intervention to reduce negative sequelae. OBJECTIVE: Establish psychometric properties and define preliminary cut-off scores for the Brazilian Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Brazil (LDCDQ-BR). METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Parents of 3- and 4-year-old children (n = 312; 154 girls) from Belo Horizonte/MG, Brazil, completed the LDCDQ-BR, the Brazil Economic Classification Criterion and a demographic questionnaire. One sub-set of children (n = 119) was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd Edition; another sub-set (n = 77) completed the LDCDQ-BR a second time. RESULTS: Rasch analysis indicated good item functioning with only one erratic item, suggesting unidimensionality. Item calibration reliability was excellent (0.97), children's measures reliability was low (0.72), but implying separation of 2.46 motor ability levels. Significant, low correlations were found between the LDCDQ-BR and MABC-2 (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Test-retest reliability was 0.77 (total score) and 0.44-0.78 (individual items). ROC curve analysis revealed sensitivity of 68% at a cut-off score of 64. CONCLUSION: The LDCDQ-BR shows promising psychometric properties to support early identification of DCD.

Clinical Implications of the General Movement Optimality Score: Beyond the Classes of Rasch Analysis.

This article explores the clinical implications of the three different classes drawn from a Rasch analysis of the general movements optimality scores (GMOS) of 383 infants. Parametric analysis of the class membership examines four variables: age of assessment, brain injury presence, general movement patterns, and 2-year-old outcomes. GMOS separated infants with typical (class 3) from atypical development, and further separated cerebral palsy (class 2) from other neurodevelopmental disorders (class 1). Each class is unique regarding its quantitative and qualitative representations on the four variables. The GMOS has strong psychometric properties and provides a quantitative measure of early motor functions. The GMOS can be confidently used to assist with early diagnosis and predict distinct classes of developmental outcomes, grade motor behaviors, and provide a solid base to study individual general movement developmental trajectories.

Psychometric Properties of the General Movement Optimality Score using Rasch Measurement.

AIM: To explore the psychometric properties of the general movements optimality score (GMOS) by examining its dimensionality, rating scale functioning, and item hierarchies using Rasch measurement. METHODS: Secondary data analysis of the GMOS data for video-recording of 383 infants with uni-, multidimensional, and mixed Rasch partial credit models. Videos were scored based on the global General Movement Assessment categories, and on the amplitude, speed, spatial range, proximal and distal rotations, onset and offset, tremulous and cramped components of the upper and lower extremities (21 items), resulting in the GMOS. RESULTS: The GMOS data fits best to a unidimensional mixed Rasch model with three different classes of infants, with all but two items contributing to the infants' separation. Rating scales functioned well for 19 items. Item difficulty hierarchies varied depending on infants' class. No floor effect and no substantive gaps between item difficulty estimates were found. CONCLUSION: The GMOS has strong psychometric properties to distinguish infants with different functional motor performance and provides a quantitative measure of quality of movement. INTERPRETATION: The GMOS can be confidently used to assist with early diagnosis, grade motor performance, and provide a solid base to study individual general movement developmental trajectories.

Behavioral Organization in Infants with Intraventricular Hemorrhage: Characteristics and Clinical Implications.

PURPOSE: This study examined the neurobehavioral functioning in preterm infants diagnosed with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades III and IV, using the Assessment of Preterm Infants' Behavior (APIB). DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The APIB was completed on nine infants with IVH III/IV at 36 and 40weeks postmenstrual age to determine the effects of IVH on the neurobehavioral functioning and maturation over time. The APIB neurobehavioral scores (i.e., physiologic, motor, state, attention/interaction, regulatory, and examiner facilitation subsystem scores) were examined in relation to the two different testing times and to infants without lesion. RESULTS: APIB scores at 36weeks suggested easily disorganized and poorly modulated behavioral regulation and low threshold of disorganization and stress. At 40 weeks, poor overall behavioral regulation persisted; only motor differences statistically improved between the two ages. Neurobehavior was significantly poor in all but state subsystems when tested at both ages in infants with a brain lesion.

Teamwork in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Medical and technological advances in neonatology have prompted the initiation and expansion of developmentally supportive services for newborns and have incorporated rehabilitation professionals into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) multidisciplinary team. Availability of therapists specialized in the care of neonates, the roles of rehabilitation professionals, and models of service delivery vary from hospital to hospital based on philosophy, resources, and other considerations. To provide quality care for infants and families, cohesive team dynamics are required including professional competence, mutual respect, accountability, effective communication, and collaboration. This article highlights the contribution of each member of the NICU team. The dynamics of team collaboration are presented with the goal of improving outcomes of infants and families.

Desenvolvimento psicomotor em crianças pré-termo e a termo na idade escolar / Psychomotor development of preterm and full term children at school-age

Fatores biológicos, como prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascimento, e fatores ambientais, como nível sócioeconômico, podem influenciar o desenvolvimento infantil. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o desenvolvimento psicomotor de três grupos de crianças em idade escolar: (1) pré-termo de famílias de baixa renda, (2) a termo de famílias de baixa renda, e (3) a termo de classe média. Participaram do estudo 120 crianças de 5 a 7 anos de idade, 40 em cada grupo. As crianças foram submetidas a avaliação de equilíbrio estático, tônus postural, habilidades perceptuais e viso-motoras. Foi observada diferença significativa de desempenho entre os grupos na maioria dos testes. Ao analisar o efeito isolado do nível sócioeconômico, observou-se efeito favorável à classe média nos itens de tônus postural e equilíbrio. Os resultados sugerem que o desenvolvimento de crianças prematuras deve ser acompanhado até pelo menos a idade escolar, principalmente daquelas em situação de desvantagem social, sendo importante incentivar a implantação de programas de acompanhamento longitudinal do desenvolvimento dentro do sistema público de saúde

Discriminating infants from different developmental outcome groups using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) item responses.

PURPOSE: The study evaluated the ability of each item of the Test of Infant Motor Performance to separate children into developmental outcome groups. SUBJECTS: Ninety-six infants with typical development (n = 67), cerebral palsy (n = 10) or developmental delay (n = 8) participated. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using an existing Test of Infant Motor Performance data set. Discriminant analyses of items' rates of change at eight and 13 weeks' corrected age (independent variables) and outcome groups (dependent variables) were run. RESULTS: Data obtained at eight weeks' corrected age showed better discrimination and predictive validity than at 13 weeks' corrected age. Item rates and directions of change combined differently to maximize the separation among outcome groups depending on age. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Motor behaviors that could identify cerebral palsy might differ with age, depending on (1) the stage of brain and body development, and (2) whether the motor ability level itself or the speed with which children acquire different motor skills is being evaluated.

Comparison of test of infant motor performance (TIMP) item responses among children with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and typical development.

Impairment of children's motor performance might limit participation in family and community life. Therefore, identification of motor impairments is important in support of early intervention to prevent limitations in children's occupational performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine item performance on the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in a group of infants later diagnosed as having cerebral palsy (CP), developmental delay, or typical development. Particularly, we aimed to determine if specific TIMP items have a strong relationship at particular ages with the presence of a later diagnosis of CP. Exploratory graphic representation and Rasch differential item analysis were employed to investigate each individual TIMP item's behavior in discriminating among children with different outcomes. Items discriminating among the three outcome groups included: hand to mouth, neck control, rolling, and pull to sit items, particularly at ages term, 9 weeks, and 12-13 weeks corrected age. Children with CP presented "advanced" performance in items using extension patterns and slow development or regression in items requiring antigravity and balanced used of flexion-extension patterns of muscle activity.

[A comparative study of the perceptual and motor performance at school age of preterm and full term children]. / Estudo comparativo sobre o desempenho perceptual e motor na idade escolar em crianças nascidas pré-termo e a termo.

The objective of this study was to compare the perceptualmotor performance in school age children who were born preterm and full term. Two groups of children, ages 5 to 7, participated in this study. Group I had 35 children, from low-income families, born up to the 34 week of gestation and/or weight bellow 1500 g. Group II had 35 full-term children, matched by age, gender and socioeconomic status to the children in Group I. Children were tested on the Bender gestalt, the motor accuracy test and on balance and postural responses measures. The preterm group obtained significantly lower scores in the majority of the tests. These besides reinforcing the importance of the follow-up of preterm children up to school age, also indicate the need to stimulate the fine motor and postural control Devment, even among preterm children who do not show evidence of neurological impairment.

Estudo comparativo sobre o desempenho perceptual e motor na idade escolar em crianças nascidas pré-termo e a termo / A comparative study of the perceptual and motor performance at school age of preterm and full term children

O objetivo do estudo foi comparar o desempenho perceptual-motor na idade escolar de crianças nascidas pré-termo e a termo. Participaram do estudo 2 grupos de crianças, com idades entre 5 e 7 anos. O grupo I foi constituído por 35 crianças, de famílias de baixa renda, nascidas até a 34 semana de gestação e/ou peso abaixo de 1500 g, sem sinais de sequela neuromotora. O Grupo II foi constituído por 35 crianças nascidas a termo, com idade, sexo e nível sócio-economico equivalentes as crianças do Grupo I. Foram aplicados os testes de Bender, acuidade motora, provas de equilíbrio e tonus postural. As crianças pré-termo obtiveram escores significativamente inferiores na maioria dos testes. Tais resultados reafirmam a importancia do acompanhamento da criança pré-termo até a idade escolar e indicam a necessidade de se estimular o controle postural e a coordenação motora fina, mesmo naquelas crianças que não apresentam sequelas neurológicas evidentes

Comparacao das habilidades motoras de criancas prematuras e criancas nascidas a termo / Comparison of motor skills in preterm and fullterm children

A investigacao do desenvolvimento de criancas pretermo comparada com a de criancas nascidas a termo fornece informacoes importantes para programas de acompanhamento do desenvolvimento e intervencao precoce...

Estudos longitudinal do desenvolvimento de recém-nascidos pré-termo: avaliaçäo na idade pré-escolar / Follow-up study of the development of preterm neonates: assessment at preschool age

Apesar das evidências de distúrvios de aprendizagem e atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em crianças com história de prematuridade, existem poucos programas estruturados de acompanhamento longitudinal de recém-nascidos de alto risco no país, sendo pobre a documentaçäo sobre o desenvolvimento dessas crianças em nosso meio. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar aspectos do desenvolvimento perceptual e motor, do comportamento e do desenpenho escolar em um grupo de 22 crianças pré-escolar, participaram de um programa de acompanhamento do desenvolvimento de recém-nascidos de alto risco. Os pais foram entrevistados e as crianças submetidas a testes apropriados para detecçäo de distúrbios leves no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Os dados foram analisados de maneira descritiva e os resultados indicam que, das 22 crianças examinadas, 8 (37 por cento) apresentram desenvolvimento normal e 14 (63 por cento apresentaram desenpenho inconsistente ou nitidamente abaixo do esperado para a idade nos testes perceptuais, motores e em expectativas de desenpenho escolar. Os resultados resaltam a importância de programas de acompanhamento longitudinal de recém-nascidos pré-termo, sendo também discutida a relevância de fatores de risco biológico e aspecto da validade preditiva de instrumentos utilizados para detecçäo precoce de distúrbios do desenvolvimento em crianças de risco

Acompanhamento ambulatorial do desenvolvimento de recém-nascidos de alto risco: características da populaçäo e incidência de sequelas funcionais / Follow up clinic of the high-risk babies development: characteristics of the population and incidence of the functional sequel

Recém-nascidos de alto risco tendem a apresentar desvios no desenvolvimento visando à detecçäo e prevençäo de tais problemas. Este estudo apresenta uma análise descritiva das crianças atendidas durante sete anos de funcionamento de um ambulatório de acompanhamento de recém-nascido de alto risco. Sä levantadas as características da populaçäo atendida, a frequência de encaminhamentos para tratamentos especializados, a incidência de distúrbios do desenvolvimento e o número de evasöes. Os dados de 272 crianças foram analisados, sendo que o programa inclui avaliaçöes periódicas, do nascimento aos seis anos de idade, utilizando o Exame Neurológico do Recém-Nascido Pré-termo e a Termo(Dubowitz), a Avaliaçäo do Movimento do Bebê(MAI) e o Teste de Desenvolvimento de Denver. Observou-se que 82 crianças (30,1 por cento) foram encaminhadas para atendimento fisioterápico, fonoaudiológico ou terapêutico ocupacional, sendo que 12 crianças (4,4 por cento) apresentaram quadro de paralisia cerebral ou deficiência sensorial. Constatou-se a evasäo de 73 famílias (26,8 por cento) em diferentes pontos do acompanhamento...