ABSTRACT
Background: Although 6 weeks has been acknowledged as a significant time in an infant’s neurodevelopmental behaviour, there is a lack of data globally about such behaviour in infants under 3 months. In many settings normative data and
optimal scores in healthy infants at 6 weeks and 10 weeks postnatally is lacking. At the moment in South Africa the neurodevelopmental assessments being administered at these age are insufficient and exclude significant characteristics of central
nervous system maturation. Additionally the collection of data describing early development is limited.
Objectives: To use the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination to assess the development of healthy infants at 6 weeks and 10 weeks of age.
Method: Six domains in the subjects ( 35 healthy term born infants ) were assessed at 6 weeks and 10 weeks postnatally using a prospective longitudinal study. Raw scores obtained from 34 items were converted into optimality scores.
Results: Progress in the infants neurodevelopment was noted to occur between 6 weeks and 10 weeks of age. The areas in which this was noted to particularly occur included: visual behaviour, posture and muscle tone . Optimality scores
were recorded at these ages.
Conclusion: Neurodevelopmental data at and between 6 weeks and 10 weeks of age was obtained.
Clinical Implications: The study supports the view of the importance in identifying significant milestones in early screening.
Essential, Affiliate, Community Service & Non-Members:
On confirmation of purchase, you will receive a follow up email asking you to download a PDF that has links to access the article and quiz.
Premium, Professional, International, Pensioner & Fellow Members:
Navigate to Speech Articles -
Log in and access article and quiz.