The Small-for-Date Infant. Ii. Neurological and Intellectual Sequelae

A prospective study has been done on 96 full term small-for-date infants to determine the incidence and type of neurological and intellectual sequelae. Major neurological defects were uncommon with an incidence of 1% for cerebral palsy and 6% for convulsions. Minimal cerebral dysfunction characterized by hyperactivity, a short attention span, learning difficulties, poor fine coordination and hyper-reflexia was diagnosed in 25%. EEG abnormalities predominantly of a diffuse mild nature were seen in 59% of the boys and 69% of the girls (similar EEC tracings are reported in 27% of apparently normal children). Speech defects featuring immaturity of reception and expression were present in 33% of the boys and 26% of the girls. Hearing and vision were not appreciably affected. The average IQ was 95 (boys) and 101 (girls). However 50% of the boys and 36% of the girls had a poor school performance.