Prognostic value of neonatal behavioral tests

Abstract

The Rosenblith Modification of the Graham Scale is explained in some detail. Changes from Graham's scale and their rationale are dealt with. This behavioral examination was designed to help identify high‐risk newboms. Performance on various components of the Graham/Rosenblith test administered to newborns in the Collaborative Study on Cerebral Palsy (NINDS) are related to the follow‐up assessments of the CPRP at each of the levels through four years. Serendipitous findings to date are also included. Principal findings include: 1) neonates with top quartile scores on Neonatal General Maturation are unlikely to show any signs of abnormality at eight months. 2) significant relations exist between neonatal Muscle Tonus and all criteria at the four year level, 3) newborns with marked hypersensitivity to room light have gross developmental problems through the first four years at least; 4) marked discrepancy in neonatal Muscle Tonus between the upper and lower halves of the body (with upper hypotonic) is associated with a poor prognosis for almost all eight month criteria.