Neurological and mental development of low-birth-weight infants. (A preliminary report)

Abstract

52 low birth weight infants were examined, with a minimal age of 2 yr 9 mth. Neurologic abnormalities were very high (38.8%). Convulsions predominated the other abnormalities (21.2%), followed by other abnormalities, respectively, cerebral palsy, multiple handicapped, mental retardation, behaviour disorders, speech problems, hearing defect and minimal abnormalities. Neurologic impairments were found more in the group of children with weight between 2000-2500 grams; and on the appropriate for their gestational age compared to the small for gestational age children. Intelligence tests on 27 children revealed approximately 50% had an I.Q. below the normal range. A remarkably high incidence of abnormal EEG recordings (50%) was detected.