Responsiveness of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in infants born preterm.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The responsiveness of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) was examined in infants born preterm. Infant variables predictive of changes in TIMP scores were also identified. METHODS: Twenty-five infants born gestational age were assigned a risk score and administered the TIMP at 32 and 36 weeks postconceptional age (PCA). Paired t-tests and analyses of variance examined differences between TIMP scores across time and between groups. Correlations and regression analyses determined the relationship between infant variables and TIMP score changes.

RESULTS:

TIMP scores significantly increased between 32 and 36 weeks PCA. A significant effect of time for risk groups was found. No significant correlations between infant variables and TIMP score changes were revealed.

CONCLUSIONS:

The TIMP was responsive to changes in infants born preterm but did not discriminate based on risk classification. The infant variables did not predict changes in TIMP scores. Further research with a larger sample size is warranted.