This study found that mothers (n=40) of extremely high-risk infants (averaging 1000 grams birthweight and 28 weeks gestational age) called upon the same experiences and sources of information as mothers of full-term infants. Infants of mothers with above average knowledge about infancy scored significantly higher on tests of infant development at…

Premature infants with subependymal or intraventricular hemorrhage took longer to habituate on a habituation task, and scored lower on a measure of mental development, than did other premature infants or full-term infants. Both groups of premature infants were less successful than full-term infants on an object permanence task. (BC)

Examined association between mother's marital status and perinatal outcome among single births in Finland in 1987 (n=56,595 infants). Found that perinatal deaths, low birthweight, and preterm infants were more common among single mothers than among married mothers. Results for cohabiting mothers were more similar to those of married than to those…

Examined mothers' perceptions of low birthweight infants, neonatal hospital environment, and general parenting attitudes during the perinatal period. Maternal age and socioeconomic status were associated with maternal perceptions of hospital environment. Variables including maternal health, smoking, and length of infant hospitalization contributed…

Examined the mediating role of the home environment on the relationship between IQs of mothers and their low birthweight children. Results indicated that the IQ of children at three years was related to maternal IQ and measures of home environment when children were one and three years of age. (BB)

Tested infants' latency in turning toward stimulus patterns and the duration of their initial fixation. Results showed that "turning latency" fell in a linear manner from 36 to 120 weeks after conception. Fixation time fell abruptly at 53 weeks. Preterm and full-term infants showed the same developmental trends. (BC)

The purpose of this case study was to explore the synchronous behaviors enacted by mother and infant with blindness. In the study, a mother's less than optimal experience with the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) had a profound effect not only on her and her infant son, who was born 3 months prematurely and was visually impaired, but also on…

Neonatal neurobehavioral assessments describe a newborn's spontaneous behavioural repertoire and observable responses to environmental stimuli. Infant developmental assessments document the range of developmental skills that emerge and develop over the first years of life. This review highlights two neonatal assessments (Einstein Neonatal…

This study examined whether cry acoustics enhance the prediction of developmental outcome in preterm infants, after accounting for medical and social variables. Selection criteria for 149 preterm subjects included being born at less than 35 weeks gestational age and less than 1,500 grams; for 25 term subjects, selection criteria included being…

To determine whether deficits warranting intervention are present in the later functioning of high-risk infants, 22 premature infants who experienced asphyxia or chronic lung disease (CLD) but who had no gross developmental abnormalities were evaluated. Assessments of auditory perception and receptive language ability were made during later…

The word "stress" all too often describes the emotional state of a parent after the premature birth of a high risk infant. Research studies indicate specific reasons for parental stress in the context and settings associated with the premature birth of a child. Such reasons include lack of preparation for the early birth, the immature appearance…

The study compared performance of very low birthweight (VLBW) children at 5 years of age who were enrolled in regular preschool and kindergarten classes with matched classmate controls on cognitive measures and teacher rated classroom behavior. Outcome measures included the Slosson Intelligence Test, Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration,…

Presented is a historical report on the use of oxygen therapy with premature infants and the development of retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), a condition leading to detachment of the retina and arrest of growth of the eye. Covered are the following topics: the early history of oxygen use for premature infants (such as for prevention of cyanotic…

Data from the observation of sensory stimuli in the premature infant's hospital environment suggest that premature infants may suffer from an inappropriate pattern rather than an inadequate amount of stimulation. (Author/JMB)

A review of the literature dealing with the effects of stimulative intervention on premature infants. (BRT)