Sensorimotor Profiles in Very Low Birth Weight Infants at Four Months Adjusted Age:

Abstract

The sensorimotor performance at four months corrected age of a cohort of 83 very low birthweight infants in described using the Uzgiris and Hunt Scales of Infants Sensorimotor Development. These infants were 29 ± 3 weeks (mean ±SD) gestation (range 24-35) and 1094 ± 286 grams (mean ± SD) birthweight (range 450-1500). While performeance was appropriate on some of the scales, a profile characterized by a specific deficit on the Visual Pursuit and Object Permanence scale (mean 73.7, p <0.01) and to a lesser extent the Spatial Relations Scale (mean 80.4, NS), and bye a relative strength on the scale Schemes for Relating to Objects (mean 87.3, p+0.023), was evident. This specific profile occurred primarily in infants of birthweight 750 grams or less, or gestation of 24 to 25 weeks, and was unrelated to low Apgar scores, the occurrence of intraventricular haemorrhage or retinopathy of prematurity. The etiology of this profile may e the extremely early or proloned exposure to an inappropriate visual environment. As many very low birthweight infants without major handicap are noted to develop later perceptual deficits particularly in visually mediated skills, the significance of this early trend warrants further evaluations.