[P1-9] Joint Attention Development in Low-risk Very and Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants at 19 Months Corrected Age
[Introduction] Earlier studies have shown that very and extremely low birth weight (VLBW and ELBW) infants have different characteristics in the development of joint attention from normal birth weight (NBW) infants. The purpose of this study is to clarify the developmental characteristics of joint attention in VLBW and ELBW infants without high-risk complications compared to NBW infants.
[Methodology] The subjects were 50 NBW, 23 VLBW, and 29 ELBW infants (mean ages: 19.5chronological months, 19.8 corrected months, and 19.4 corrected months, respectively) and their parents. Section B of the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers was conducted on study subjects, and the sessions were recorded by a video camera. A semi-structured observation scale was originally developed based on Early Social Communication Scales and used to assess infants’ joint attention behaviors.
[Results] VLBW infants showed significantly poor skills in 2 of 14 joint attention observation scale items (1 responding to joint attention item and 1 initiating joint attention item) compared to NBW infants. Significant differences between ELBW and NBW groups were observed in 6 of 14 scale items (2 responding to joint attention items and 4 initiating joint attention items). No significant differences were shown between VLBW and ELBW groups.
[Conclusions] There are significant differences in joint attention development among VLBW, ELBW, and NBW infants. These results suggest that ELBW infants might have higher risk of developmental delay in joint attention. Follow-up evaluation should be continued for not only high-risk but also low-risk VLBW and ELBW infants.
[Methodology] The subjects were 50 NBW, 23 VLBW, and 29 ELBW infants (mean ages: 19.5chronological months, 19.8 corrected months, and 19.4 corrected months, respectively) and their parents. Section B of the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers was conducted on study subjects, and the sessions were recorded by a video camera. A semi-structured observation scale was originally developed based on Early Social Communication Scales and used to assess infants’ joint attention behaviors.
[Results] VLBW infants showed significantly poor skills in 2 of 14 joint attention observation scale items (1 responding to joint attention item and 1 initiating joint attention item) compared to NBW infants. Significant differences between ELBW and NBW groups were observed in 6 of 14 scale items (2 responding to joint attention items and 4 initiating joint attention items). No significant differences were shown between VLBW and ELBW groups.
[Conclusions] There are significant differences in joint attention development among VLBW, ELBW, and NBW infants. These results suggest that ELBW infants might have higher risk of developmental delay in joint attention. Follow-up evaluation should be continued for not only high-risk but also low-risk VLBW and ELBW infants.