Psychosocial functioning in adolescents: results according to Amiel-Tison neurological assessment in a group of preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study investigated the relationship between Amiel-Tison neurological assessment (ATNA) in preterm children and their psychosocial functioning in adolescence. METHODS: From the initial group of 45 children regularly assessed by the ATNA from term until the age of 2 years, 27 participated in the follow-up at 13 years. RESULTS: Of the three groups categorized by neurological signs as normal, intermediate or abnormal, parents of adolescents with normal ATNA reported the lowest number of executive function problems (p = 0.019) and behavioral symptoms (p = 0.011), while the adolescents themselves reported the lowest number of behavioral symptoms (p = 0.005) and the highest quality of life (p = 0.012). The number of problems reported increased with the number of abnormal neurological signs. CONCLUSION: Standardized neurological assessment may be a helpful clinical tool for the identification of children at risk for later psychosocial problems who could benefit from prevention and early intervention programs.

Assessment of general movements and 2.5 year developmental outcomes: pilot results in a diverse preterm group.

BACKGROUND: While the predictive value of general movements for later cerebral palsy is well known, its value to predict minor neurological and developmental impairments is less clear. AIM: To analyze the results of the assessment of general movements in relation to the developmental outcome measured by the Bayley scales of infant development in a group of preterm infants. METHODS: Twenty-six preterm infants (gestational age from 23 weeks to 36 weeks) were included. The results of the assessment of general movements at term age and at 3 months corrected age were compared to the results of the mental and psychomotor developmental index of the Bayley scales assessed between two and three years of chronological age. RESULTS: Infants with normal writhing general movements achieved the highest scores on the mental and psychomotor developmental index, and those with cramped-synchronized general movements had the lowest scores. Infants with normal general movements during the fidgety period achieved the highest scores on both scales; those with an absence of fidgety movements achieved the lowest scores. We found the sensitivity of general movements to predict cognitive impairments to be 1.00 during the writhing period and 0.83 during the fidgety period; and 0.85 and 0.54, respectively, to predict motor impairments. The differences in the mental developmental index score between the groups with different qualities of general movements were significant in the writhing period and approached significance in the fidgety period, while for the psychomotor developmental index the differences between the groups with different qualities of general movements were not significant. CONCLUSION: The quality of general movements may be predictive of later development.

Amiel-Tison Neurological Assessment at term age: clinical application, correlation with other methods, and outcome at 12 to 15 months.

The aims of this study were: (1) to perform the Amiel-Tison Neurological Assessment (ATNA) in a group of infants with different risk factors for brain damage; (2) to analyze the results of the examinations in light of the risk factors and presumed aetiology; (3) to compare results of examinations with results of cranial ultrasound, electroencephalography (EEG), and cerebral function monitoring (CFM); and (4) to evaluate neurological outcome at 12 to 15 months of age using the Amiel-Tison and Gosselin method, and developmental outcome using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Participants were 52 term, newborn infants (31 males, 21 females) with risk factors for brain damage. Mean birthweight was 3288g (SD 661g) and mean gestational age was 39.4wks (SD 1.2wks); range 38 to 41.3wks. Mean age at admission to a neonatal special care unit was 75h, (SD 13.7h). The group with a dynamic (evolving) clinical profile differed significantly from the group with a static (stable) profile in terms of aetiology, while the group with signs of prenatal brain damage differed from the group without these signs regarding aetiology and the level of severity of neurological signs. Sensitivity of the ATNA to detect infants with abnormal ultrasound was 0.97, with EEG 0.89, and with CFM 0.88. At follow-up at 12 to 15 months 47 children were examined: neurological examination was normal in 25 and five children had a minor, five a moderate, and 12 a severe neurological deficit. Agreement of the ATNA with neurological and developmental assessment at follow-up was very good. Our findings suggest that the ATNA is also of value in assessing aetiology and timing of brain lesions.