Behavioral differences between normal and traumatized newborns: II: Standardization, reliability, and validity.

Abstract

Five measures consisting of a pain threshold test, a vision scale, an irritability rating, a maturation scale and a muscle tension rating were given to 265 infants without prenatal, perinatal or post-natal complications and to 81 infants suffering from anoxia, mechanical birth injury, or disease or infections associated with brain damage. All of the tests appeared to be statistically reliable. Norms were established for each test, with separate norms for each of the first 5 days of life, and for Negro and white subjects where these variables were related to performance. Significant differences were established on all tests between normal and traumatized groups paired for relevant variables. Since intercorrelations of the 5 tests were low, a combined abnormality score was tentatively recommended. 17 references.