Head size and motor performance in children born prematurely.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between head circumference (HC) and motor performance in 6- to 12-yr-old children born prematurely (PRE: birthweight < or = 1500 g, gestational age < or = 32 wk) and in children born at term (CON).

Methods: Thirty-three PRE and 21 CON without an apparent neurological deficit participated in this study. HC was measured on the day of testing and was rated as small HC (SHC, HC more than 1 SD below the 50th percentile of reference data) or as normal HC (NHC).