Neurological Assessment During the First Year of Life

Remember thescarf sign, thesquare window, thelateral propping reaction, and theRecamier position? These terms Were coined by the Claudine Amiel-Tison, the mother of the neonatal neurologic examination. This small monograph is the English translation of Drs Amiel-Tison and Grenier's 1984 French publication. Sections are devoted to the clinical neurologic evaluation of the neonate, the use of Amiel-Tison's grid, evaluation of neuromotor sequelae, the significance of transient neuromotor anomalies, and the use of developmental scales and sensory evaluation. As Harvey Sarnat notes in the introduction, "This concise monograph summarizes and integrates meticulous observations of these two dedicated physicians, formulating their data into thoughtful generalizations, at times evoking imaginative interpretations." While not a standard part of the conventional neurologic assessment of young infants, Amiel-Tison's approach clearly reflects her wealth of experience with both healthy and neurologically impaired infants. The translation is excellent and captures the flavor of the original