Prognosis of neonatal "at risk" infants at early school-age: A comprehensive outcome score as a measure of impairment

Three hundred and eighty-six children with neonatal high risk factors were followed up to the age of eight to nine years. One hundred and seven children with no neonatal risk factors were examined as controls. A neuropaediatric examination, Test of Motor Impairment, part of the ITPA, WISC as well as test for reading and writing were performed. A comprehensive score for the nine-year performance describing the grade of impairment was computed. The risk group children were found to have more problems at school in general than the non-risk children. Low birth weight, neurological symptoms and children with several risk diagnoses had the poorest performances. Low social class and smallness for gestational age increased the risk of having problems at the age of nine.