Adaptive behavior in 10-11 year old children born preterm with a very low birth weight (VLBW).

Aims: The aims were to compare adaptive behavior in 10-11 year old VLBW children with and without cerebral palsy (CP) to term-born children, and examine its relationship with neonatal factors and infant motor repertoire in VLBW children without CP.

Methods: Twenty-eight VLBW children without CP, 10 VLBW children with CP and 31 term-born control children were examined at 10-11 years using the parent-reported Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II. The Adaptive Behavior Composite Score, based on communication, daily living skills and socialization, was adjusted for sex, socioeconomic status (SES), cognitive (WISC-III) and motor function (MABC-2). Associations with neonatal variables and infant motor repertoire were also examined.

Results: Adaptive Behavior Composite scores were significantly lower in the two VLBW groups (with CP: 72.5 ± 15.9; without CP: 92.2 ± 12.3) than in the control group (105.7 ± 17.5). The latter difference was still significant after adjustment for sex, SES, WISC-III and MABC-2. Among VLBW children without CP, an abnormal infant motor repertoire at 14 weeks post-term age was significantly associated with a lower Adaptive Behavior Composite score at 10-11 years of age (r(2) = 0.20, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: VLBW children have challenges regarding adaptive behavior. Specific attention may be needed to reveal such problems in VLBW children without major disabilities like CP, as these children had impaired adaptive function that could not be explained by their SES, cognitive or motor functions.