NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SEQUELAE OF PREMATURITY

Abstract

• The physical and mental status of 992 infants was studied with the help of the Gesell developmental examination and a physical examination, so as to compare 500 single-born premature infants with 492 infants born at term. The comparison was made at age 40 weeks for the full-term infants and at the corresponding corrected age for the premature infants. The two groups were matched as to race, socioeconomic status, and other significant factors. The incidence of abnormalities was found to increase as the birth weight group of the infant decreased, so that 50.9% of the infants with a birth weight less than 1,501 gm. had defects ranging from minor neurological damage to severe intellectual deficiency. Some of these also had major visual handicaps.