VISUOMOTOR BEHAVIOUR OF PRETERM INFANTS IN THE FIRST MONTH OF LIFE. A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CHRONOLOGICAL AND CORRECTED AGES

Introduction. Technological advances have helped to lower the rate of infantile mortality and to raise the survival rate of preterm infants. Thus, studies need to be conducted in this segment of the population, while prematurity continues to be one of the risk factors for neuro-sensory-motor disorders. There is evidence to show that these children present visual and visuoperceptual disorders. With regard to visual problems, the literature suggests the hypothesis that the gestational age at the moment of birth exerts an influence on the child's visual behaviour Bearing this evidence in mind, doubts are raised as to whether such alterations can be detected in periods that are appropriate for the development of vision. Subjects and methods. We carried out a cross-sectional follow-up study of preterm infants hi the first month of life who had their visuomotor behaviour evaluated at the chronological and corrected age. A 11 of them were evaluated by applying the method for assessing the visual behaviour of infants, which is based on tests from the Bayley scales of infant development, as tot instrument for investigating visuomotor behaviour Results. Most of the preterm infants presented a response, with a higher frequency in the eye contact tests, smiling as a social response, horizontal and vertical visual tracking, and increased mobility of the upper limbs on seeing the object tit the corrected age. Conclusions. The responses obtained in this study allow its to confirm the importance of taking into account the corrected age when measuring the parameters involved in the development of visuomotor behaviour [REV NEUROL 2009; 48: 13-6]481131

Método para avaliação da conduta visual de lactentes A method to evaluate visual ability in infants

O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar um método para avaliação de funções visuais em lactentes no primeiro trimestre de vida. Utilizou-se o Roteiro de Avaliação da Conduta Visual em Lactentes, modificado de Gagliardo (1997). O material foi aro suspenso por cordão. Realizou-se estudo piloto com 33 lactentes, segundo os critérios de inclusão: neonatos assintomáticos, sem necessidade de cuidados especiais nas primeiras 48 horas; idade cronológica variando entre 1 e 3 meses; avaliação mensal sem nenhuma falta; procedência da região de Campinas/SP. No 1º mês destacaram-se as provas: fixação visual-93,9%; contato de olho-90,9%; seguimento visual horizontal-72,7% e exploração visual do ambiente-97,0%. No 3º mês: exploração visual da mão-42,4% e aumento da movimentação de braços-36,4%. Este Roteiro permitiu observar a função visual segundo a idade cronológica; desvio dessa função possibilitará pronto encaminhamento a serviços médicos para diagnóstico.<br>The purpose of this study is to introduce a method to evaluate visual functions in infants in the first three months of life. An adaptation of the Guide for the Assessment of Visual Ability in Infants (Gagliardo, 1997) was used. The instrument was a ring with string. It was implemented a pilot study with 33 infants, selected according to the following criteria: neonates well enough to go home within two days of birth; 1 to 3 months of chronological age; monthly evaluation with no absence; subjects living in Campinas/SP metropolitan area. In the first month we observed: visual fixation (93,9%); eye contact (90,9%); horizontal tracking (72,7%); inspects surroundings (97,0%). In the third month, we observed: inspects own hands (42,4%) and increased movements of arms (36,4%). This method allowed the evaluation of visual functions in infants, according to the chronological age. Alterations in this function will facilitate immediate referral to medical services for diagnoses