2018 Volume 64 Issue 6 Pages 454-460
Objectives: The early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders is critical for children born prematurely. Therefore, we examined whether Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III) data were correlated with subsequent cognitive function among very-low-birthweight (VLBW) children at 6 years of age.
Methods: We included 30 VLBW children (17 males, 13 females) born at a mean gestational age of 28.5 weeks (mean birth weight, 1,015 g). Developmental status was assessed using the BSID-III at 3 years old and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) at 6 years old. We compared the general cognitive scores and subtest scores of children at these ages.
Results: The BSID-III cognitive, language, and motor composite scores were significantly correlated with the K-ABC mental processing composite score (Spearman’s correlation coefficient=0.68, 0.66, and 0.60, respectively). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the language composite score of the BSID-III was most strongly associated with the mental processing composite score of the K-ABC (β=0.61, p=0.02).
Conclusions: BSID-III scores at 3 years of age were correlated with general cognitive abilities at 6 years of age. However, our results suggest that the language scales of the BSID-III may better predict later cognitive characteristics in VLBW children. Clinically, children with language impairment should be carefully followed for their cognitive abilities into school age.
