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Educational Gaps
1. Clinicians need to recognize children who are at risk for moderate and
severe motor and neurosensory impairments to ensure early referral for
appropriate services.
2. Clinicians need to understand that children with cerebral palsy fall on a
wide spectrum of severity and many will have good overall functioning
with appropriate therapies and developmental supports.
Abstract
Motor disabilities and neurosensory impairments are common in survivors of
prematurity, and signicantly affect quality of life. Cerebral palsy occurs with
a much higher prevalence in preterm survivors compared with term infants;
however, another less severe but important neuromotor condition is
developmental coordination disorder. Visual and hearing impairments are
less common, but signicantly compound physical disabilities. Early
identication and referral for services are important to optimize functioning,
learning, and community supports for these children. This article provides a
review of prevalence, at-risk factors, presenting signs and symptoms, and
management strategies for these conditions.
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score of less than or equal to 3, intrauterine growth restric- and physical therapies. Many authors advocate a family-
tion, birthweight less than 2,000 g, severe hyperbilirubine- centered, holistic approach that is not merely focused on
mia, and male gender are associated with CP. (18)(19)(20) achieving ambulation, but on maximizing overall function-
(21)(22) Although infants with cerebral malformations or ing. (31)(32)(33) Parents and providers should aim at pro-
seizures during the neonatal period are usually followed in moting independence in daily activities rather than focusing
developmental clinics, well-appearing infants with mild motor on learning skills, similar to children without disabilities.
delays and antecedent risk factors such as chorioamnionitis This requires the liberal use of assistive devices such as
may not receive close developmental follow-up, especially splints, walkers, and mobility devices as well as access to
if their neonatal course is uncomplicated. switches. Among children with speech and articulation dif-
culties, the use of sign language, pictures, and augmen-
Identication of Cerebral Palsy tative communication technology is essential. (32) For
Although a diagnosis of CP is typically not made until age 2 children with spasticity, medical treatments such as bot-
years, infants can exhibit early signs. In the young infant (<1 ulinum toxin injections and intrathecal baclofen are com-
year of age), hyper- or hypotonia, difculty with advancing monly prescribed; surgical therapies such as selective
oral feeds, hand preference, prominent sting, asymmetric dorsal rhizotomy and specic orthopedic surgeries are
crawling, persistence of primitive reexes, ankle clonus, and also used. (34) The combined goals for these interventions
scissoring of legs are important early signs. (23) In addition, are to prevent deformity, optimize motor functioning, and
they may exhibit abnormal behavior in the form of excessive promote well-being.
crying, jitteriness, abnormal sleeping patterns, and irrita- Children with CP face multiple comorbidities in addition
bility. (24) The quality of general movements (spontaneous to speech and motor impairments including pain, seizures,
motor activity of the infant) in a young infant is predictive of undernutrition, urinary incontinence, sleep and behavior-
motor impairment with cramped-synchronized movements al problems, and autism spectrum disorders. (5)(35) For
being predictive of CP. (25) Infants with micro- or macro- some children, these comorbidities may affect health and
cephaly, seizures, multiple apneic episodes, need for gavage social roles and may be more distressing than their motor
feeds, temperature dysregulation, and 10-minute Apgar limitations.
score of less than 3 are at high risk for CP. (26) It is important to remember the burdens and stresses
faced by the caregiver, usually mothers, of a child with
Management Strategies a chronic illness and special neurodevelopmental health
If a child has severe motor impairment and high clinical needs. (36) Providers should take into account the health
suspicion (eg, PVL on MRI), the diagnosis of CP can be and well-being of the family and not just the child with CP.
made before age 2 years. In Australia, a strategy to identify Many new alternative therapies have been described but
children at highest risk for CP in the rst 4 months after not adequately studied; physicians should adopt an honest
birth combines neuroimaging and general movement and practical approach to helping families who are trying to
assessments. (27)(28) This approach is applied to preterm provide the best opportunities for their child with CP to
infants, term infants with neonatal encephalopathy or con- learn and be as independent as possible.
genital heart disease, and all infants with malformations
requiring surgical correction. This protocol was described Long-term Outcomes: Risk for Additional Disabilities
by Iona Novak and colleagues; while offering some expla- CP encompasses a wide spectrum of severity, and not all
nation to parents, it also provides support at times of children with CP require wheelchair assistance. (37) Chil-
maximal brain plasticity. (29) Early diagnosis may qualify dren who achieve head control by 9 months of age, who
the child for additional assistance in the form of therapy are sitting by 2 years of age, and who have suppression of
sessions, assistive technology, insurance benets, and fed- primitive reexes by 18 to 24 months of age are more likely
eral assistance. (30) Parents of children with moderate to to achieve eventual ambulation than those who do not
severe CP will likely already have concerns about the devel- achieve these milestones. (24)(37)
opment of their child, and often providing a diagnosis helps The type of CP and motor involvement based on the
them move forward and acquire necessary information, Gross Motor Function Classication System (GMCFS) level
support, and services for their child. can help in understanding gross motor prognosis. Children
Children with CP require ongoing, multispecialty follow- within a GMCFS level usually develop certain levels of mo-
up including developmental, neurologic, rehabilitation, bility, so a child at GMFCS level 1 to level 2 at age 2 years is
orthopedic, ophthalmology, audiology, speech, occupational, likely to attain upright walking and have fewer comorbidities
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in those who spend more than 5 days in the NICU, the risk with known risk factors is critically important throughout
increases 10-fold to 2% to 4%. (55)(56) The global incidence childhood because subsequent screening may show hearing
of signicant visual disability and blindness in infants varies loss. (58)(59) Despite the work to identify infants with hearing
greatly. In developed countries, ROP is a leading cause of loss, of those infants diagnosed, only 61.7% were enrolled in
visual impairment and blindness. (57) The incidence of early intervention services. (64)
ROP is 0.12% and up to 15% in premature infants. (57) In
these infants, severe visual impairment is seen in 1.5% to
Impact of Timely Diagnosis
4%. (58)
Many studies have shown that early identication and
therapy can improve the long-term speech, language, cog-
At-Risk Infants
nitive, and social interactions of children with hearing loss.
Many NICU conditions contribute to the potential for
(55)(56)(59) Several large trials examining ROP outcomes
hearing loss, including any care for more than 5 days such as
have shown that timely diagnosis and treatment either with
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, craniofacial anoma-
laser or bevacizumab improve disease progression and ulti-
lies, assisted ventilation, in utero or postnatal infection,
mately preserve healthy vision. (65)(66)
exposure to ototoxic medications such as loop diuretics, or
hyperbilirubinemia requiring exchange transfusion. (55)(59)
In addition, any newborn whose caregiver has a concern CONCLUSION
regarding hearing, speech, language, developmental delay, or
The major role of neonatal follow-up has been to coordi-
a family history of hearing loss is at higher risk. (55)(59) The
nate the support that families require for infants who
main risk factor for visual impairment in developed countries
present with the signs and symptoms of CP and neuro-
is ROP and is driven largely by oxygen exposure during the
sensory disability in the rst 2 years after birth. However,
NICU course. (60)(61) Infants exposed to intrauterine infec-
there is much interest in applying evidence-based early
tions and congenital cataracts are also at risk for visual
interventions to promote plasticity and have a positive
impairment.
impact on child functioning and family well-being. This
requires a combination of neurodevelopmental surveil-
Identication of Hearing or Vision Loss
lance; interdisciplinary collaboration with physical, occupa-
Screening at birth can identify many patients, but the risk of
tional, and speech therapists; and collaborative relationships
developing hearing loss continues throughout childhood.
with audiologists, otolaryngologists, and ophthalmologists.
Infants should be screened before age 3 months and age-
In this way, we can also better understand our need for
appropriate intervention should be in place no later than age
improving science, ongoing care, community support, and
6 months. (59) Any child who has a risk factor for hearing
advocacy.
loss, regardless of newborn screening results, should be
regularly screened with at least 1 audiology assessment by
age 24 to 30 months. (55)(59)(62) ROP screening should be
conducted for all infants born at a gestational age of less than American Board of Pediatrics
or equal to 30 weeks or birthweight less than or equal to NeonatalPerinatal Content
1,500 g or other infants of more than 30 weeks gestation Specications
with an unstable clinical course. The rst examination
Know the neonatal conditions that are associated with vision loss
should be performed at a chronologic age of 4 to 6 weeks in preterm and full-term infants.
or at 31 weeks corrected gestational age. (63) Subsequent Know the evolution of neurodevelopmental impairments during
examinations are repeated based on the clinical ndings. development and the difference between transient and
permanent impairments in NICU graduates (eg, developmental
Infants Who Are Not Identied delay vs. intellectual disability; tone abnormalities vs. cerebral
The average age of detection of signicant hearing loss is palsy).
14 months. (55) With universal screening, the focus has Know the rationale for early intervention programs for infants at
risk for cognitive and behavioral problems.
shifted to infants who may pass an initial otoacoustic
Know the incidence, causes, risk factors, and approaches to
emissions test but have an abnormal auditory brainstem-
evaluation and management of acquired hearing loss in the
evoked response. These infants with auditory neuropathy
neonate.
are typically smaller and more premature than those with
sensorineural hearing loss. (62) Follow-up of all infants
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1. An infant born at 28 weeks gestational age is now 24 months old and being evaluated at NOTE: Learners can take
the high-risk infant follow-up clinic. There is concern for cerebral palsy. Which of the NeoReviews quizzes and
following statements regarding preterm birth and cerebral palsy is correct? claim credit online only
A. At this age, cerebral palsy is often transient and about 50% of cases will resolve by at: http://Neoreviews.org.
school age.
B. Cerebral palsy is a clinical description and lacks specic pathologic or radiographic To successfully complete
features, with some infants with cerebral palsy having a normal brain magnetic 2016 NeoReviews articles
resonance imaging scan. for AMA PRA Category 1
C. The dening characteristic of cerebral palsy is progressive brain injury. CreditTM, learners must
D. Prematurity is the main risk factor in 75% of cases of cerebral palsy. demonstrate a minimum
E. The prevalence of cerebral palsy in infants born at 28 weeks gestational age is 15% performance level of 60%
to 20%. or higher on this
2. An 18-month-old infant is being evaluated for possible cerebral palsy. Which of the assessment, which
following is a risk factor for cerebral palsy? measures achievement of
A. Female gender. the educational purpose
B. Absence of sepsis during initial hospitalization. and/or objectives of this
C. White race (compared with Africa American race). activity. If you score less
D. Intrauterine growth restriction. than 60% on the
E. Hyperthyroidism. assessment, you will be
given additional
3. An 8 year old with cerebral palsy requires a wheelchair. She attends mainstream class in
opportunities to answer
school with individualized assistance from an aide. Which of the following statements
questions until an overall
regarding the prognosis of cerebral palsy in childhood is correct?
60% or greater score is
A. Children who achieve head control by 9 months of age and who are sitting by 2 achieved.
years of age, and have suppression of primitive reexes by 18 to 24 months of age
are more likely to achieve eventual ambulation than those who do not achieve
those milestones. This journal-based CME
B. Children who have a Gross Motor Function Classication System level of 5 have the activity is available
highest likelihood of achieving more independence and abilities in performing through Dec. 31, 2018,
daily activities of life. however, credit will be
C. Among 8-year-old children with cerebral palsy, 90% are not yet ambulating recorded in the year in
independently. which the learner
D. The most common form of cerebral palsy in preterm infants is double hemiplegia. completes the quiz.
E. Almost all infants with dystonic types of cerebral palsy have normal intelligence but
very few (<10%) will achieve ambulation.
4. A 5-year-old child who was born at 30 weeks gestational age is being evaluated for lack of
coordination and balance. There is concern for developmental coordination disorder.
Which of the following statements regarding developmental coordination disorder is
correct?
A. The disorder is dened as an impairment of motor performance that is noticeable
on physical examination, but insufcient to produce functional performance
decits.
B. The disorder is not associated with any risk of cognitive or behavioral problems.
C. The disorder is characterized primarily by difculties in very ne motor skills such as
handwriting or typing, but with no difculties in gross motor skills such as riding a
bicycle.
D. Children with this disorder usually do not have problems with early milestone
acquisition.
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E. A hallmark of diagnosis is that almost all patients with the disorder had either grade
2 to grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia during
the neonatal period.
5. An 18-month-old infant has no words and is being evaluated for hearing loss. Which of the
following statements correctly describes risk of hearing loss in newborns?
A. Screening soon after birth should identify all cases of childhood hearing loss.
B. Care in the NICU for more than 5 days, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation,
craniofacial anomalies, assisted ventilation, and hyperbilirubinemia requiring
exchange transfusion are some factors that increase risk of hearing loss.
C. In a child who has a risk factor for hearing loss, but normal newborn hearing
screening, the next audiology assessment should occur right before starting
kindergarten.
D. The average age of detection of hearing loss is 20 months of age.
E. Although early intervention programs make sense, studies have not yet shown
signicant positive impact of early identication and therapy in children with
hearing loss.
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