NEUROBEHAVIORAL INDICATORS OF EARLY BRAIN INSULT IN HIGH-RISK NEONATES

Neurobehavioral (NB) performance was evaluated in 248 neurologically at-risk neonates at neonatal intensive care unit discharge to investigate the relation between behavior and brain insult. Six brain insult groups were defined on the basis of findings from cranial ultrasonography and brainstem auditory evoked response tests. The NB evaluation consisted of a modification and condensation of the Einstein Neonatal NB Assessment Scale and the assessment of activated motor patterns described by Katona. Logistic regression analysis of normal vs. abnormal judgments of behavioral categories revealed that, independent of the effects of prematurity, different patterns of NB abnormalities were associated with different degrees and types of brain insult.