Early indicators of learning problems in high-risk children

The study examined the association between transient neurologic abnormalities and later learning problems in children who experienced perinatal difficulties. Follow-up assessments at school age were made of children from a Perinatal Follow-up Program who had birth weights less than 1500 g, or required assisted ventilation, or experienced seizures in the neonatal period. Eighteen children who had shown abnormalities on Amiel-Tison Neurologic Exam between 4 and 18 months of age, but assessed as developing normally on neuromotor and cognitive assessments by 24-48 months, were identified as cases. These cases were compared with 29 controls who had been assessed as normally developing throughout. No significant group differences were found on school-age cognitive, language, visual-motor, school performance, or behavior measures. Significant correlations between perinatal and demographic variables and school-age measures were found. A sizable number of these high-risk children were shown to have signs of school-related problems.